
• • KND • • 



BY EDGHR F. HOME 


REDLANDS, CAL. 

. XME) RACTS • 


1892 













BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 


GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL 

Prohibition Nominee for President 


-AND- 

DR. JAMES B. CRANFILL 

Prohibition Nominee for Vice-President 


-wn'H- 

NOMINATING SPEECHES, NATIONAL PLATFORM, AND 
BIDWELL’S LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE 


il 


'f 


By 


/ 

EDQAR K. HOWB 



REDLANDS, CAL. 
lSd2. 








Right in line with Abraham Lincoln and with all the great and good 
Who have scaled the peaks of progress, beck’ning to the brother¬ 
hood, 

We will seek God’s California, and some day we’ll enter in, ' 

For we’re going to cross the Rockies of intemperance and sin. 

Bidwell! Bidwell! grand and tall. 

He’s the man to lead us all; 

We will seek our California and our hosts will enter in; 

We are going to cross the Rockies of intemperance and sin. 

—Rev. P. J. Bull. 




2 r. 


GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL 


It is with no apology we write of that patriarch who, in this 
year of 1892, is acknowledged to be the presidential choice of as 
many voters as in the memorable days of King Caucus rallied 
under the leadership of Jackson, Calhoun, Crawford and Clay. 
Conservative calculation enables us to predict that more votes will 
be cast for General Bidwell in this political year of grace than were 
cast for all the candidates for the Presidencj^ in 1824. 

Then what wondrous strides our country’- has made. The can¬ 
didate of the Prohibition party is old enough to remember the 
overthrow of the first great corrupting force in American politics— 
King Caucus. And we have wondered, judging bj^ his lifelong 
opposition to all the corrupting machinery of politics if he had not 
in boyhood caught the spirit of Old Hickory himself There is in 
his character so much of the dauntless spirit of Jackson, so much of 
the chivalry for which the hero of New Orleans was noted, that 
the comparison of characters is apt. Yet here the similarity ceases. 
The one possessed an ungovernable temper that marked him as the 
whirlwind of politics. The other is as gentle in his methods as a 
woman. One was a blasphemer. The other is a devout Christian. 
Both spent their lives on the frontier. The one absorbed the ideas 
of those'about him. The other had a moral character so deter¬ 
mined that it withstood the tempting environments of a half cen¬ 
tury on the frontier. 

That a man whose memory spans two generations and yet is 
clear and forcible; whose life dates from that time when the Missis¬ 
sippi was unplowed and almost unknown; whose moral character 
is unblemished after a half century on the wild, crime-inspiring 
frontier; whose political integrity, from the days of Mexican rule 
in California to this year of our Lord, has never been impeached; 
who has been a pioneer for civilization, for religion, for education, 
for pure politics—that such a man should be selected as a leader by 
a company of pioneers blazing the way through the forests of 
political prejudice, is a most fitting recompense for a life well spent. 




8 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


The family of General John Bid well has lon^ resided in New 
England. His father, Abraham Bidwell, was a native of Connecti¬ 
cut, and his mother, Clarissa Griggs Bidwell, was born in Massa¬ 
chusetts. General Bidwell is a native of Chautauqua county, New" 
York, w"here he was bom .\ugust 5, 1819. Following the spirit of 
the period, his family drifted westward, removing to Erie, Pennsyl¬ 
vania, when he w^as ten years of age, and thence to western Ohio, 
Here he lived with his father until 1839, he then being tw'enty years 
of age. On the advice of Governor Lucas, however, he decided to 
go to low^a and pre-empt a quarter .section of land, thinking his 
father would join him later. He left in the spring of 1839 for Cin¬ 
cinnati, riding most of the distance on a w^agon load of farm pro¬ 
duce. General Bidw'cll furnishes a catalogue of his property at 
that time which contrasts strongly w'ith his present possessions. 
He says; “ outfit consisted of about $75, the clothes I w’ore, 
and a few others in a knapsack which I carried in the usual w'ay 
strapped to my shoulders, for in those da\'S travelers did not have 
valises and trunks. Though traveling was considered dangerous I 
had no w^eapon more formidable than a pocket knife.” 

From Cincinnati he went by steamboat to St. Louis, and thence 
to Burlington in Iowa Territory. Here he undertook to establish a 
school, and went so far as to build a log school hoUvSe. But Bid- 
well’s early life seemed to be filled with disappointments. Burling¬ 
ton had but twn) hundred inhabitants, and the average frontiers¬ 
man had but little disposition to patronize schools and but little 
moncA" to enable him to do so. Fever and ague became general,, 
and becoming discouraged at the outlook, Bidwell set his face once 
more to the frontier, abandoning the house he had built. This time 
he had Missouri in view, and traveled for da^’^s across a sparsely 
settled district, often without road or trail, frequently traveling 
tw"enty miles between houses. At last he reached the Platte Pur¬ 
chase (now Platte County ) w"hich had just received heavy immigra¬ 
tion. 

Writing of this experience long afterwards. General Bidwell 
says: ‘‘On the route I traveled I cannot recall seeing an emigrant 
wagon in Missouri. The Western movement which subsequently 
filled Missouri and other Western States and overflowed into the 
adjoining Territories had then hardly begun, except as to Platte 
County. The contest in Congress over the Platte Purchase, which, 
by increasing the area of Missouri, gave more territory to slavery, 
called wide attention to that charming region. The anti-slavery 
sentiment, even at that date, ran quite high. This was, I believe, 
the first addition to slave territory after the Missouri compromise. 


GENERAL jOTIN TTn)WKLL. 


9 


But slaven' won. The rush that followed in the space of one or 
two years filled the most desirable part of the purchav^e to over¬ 
flowing.” 

There is a spirit of generosity on the frontier unknown in old 
communities. We speak especially of that tendency to overlook the 
quantity of the world’s goods possessed bv individuals. John Bid- 
well landed on the shores of the Missouri in that condition ex¬ 
pressed by the frontier word more recently nationalized, “broke.” 
His money was gone. Yet he was among a people with whom 
“going broke” carried no more obloqtn^ than does the act of stub¬ 
bing his toe in the mind of the small boy. .\s a matter of fact, 
America was not pioneered by men of great possessions, and remote 
in the forests away from conventional knowledge, those hardy 
pioneers had not then learned that men were supposed to carry 
their souls in their pocket books. 

But on still another line was the generosity of the people nota¬ 
ble. Young Bid well took with him a deep rej)ugnance for slavery. 
And yet the people among whom he was thrown were slave holders. - 
In that dav the border quarrels between Kansas and Missouri, 
destined eventually to make an important part of American his¬ 
tory, were not developed, and his convictions were respected by 
those who disagreed with him. Speaking of these people in his 
article in the “Century Magazine” for November, 1890, he says: 
“The rapid settlement of that new region had brought together 
people of all classes and conditions, and had thrown into juxtapo¬ 
sition almost every phase of intelligence as well as illiteracy. But 
there was no lack of self-reliance or native shrewdness in any class, 
and 1 must say that I learned to have a high esteem for the people, 
among whom I found warm and life-long friends.” Casting about 
for an occupation, Bidwell crossed over the border into Kansas and 
opened a school in June, 1839, he being well qualified both by 
nature and study for the work. 

In the fall surve\^ors arrived from the East to establish boun¬ 
dary lines, and great confusion was caused, as previousl v the lands 
had been appropriated by individuals without system. Under the 
new arrangement Bidwell acquired a small tiyict of land, to which 
he devoted his energies until the summer of 1840. The law required 
the pre-emptor of land to be twenty-one years of age and to be the 
head of a family. Bidwell was neither, and a border ruffian took 
advantage of these facts to “jump” his claim during his absence. 
In this way he lost all he had gained by a year’s work, and once 
more he was financially stranded. 

“There is a tide in the affairs of men, which if taken at its ffood 



10 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


leads on to fortune.” When John Bid well left his Chautauqua 
County home, when he left the banks of Lake Erie, when he left the 
Buckeye State, there was no indication that these were but steps 
upon a career such as few men have ever been permitted to expe¬ 
rience. This last disaster was the turning point in his life. He 
resolved that when spring should open he would again set his face 
toward new fields. 

We will let him relate how his selection of a field was made. 

Said he in the article heretofore quoted: “In November or 
December of 1840, while still teaching school in Platte County, I 
came across a Frenchman named Rubideaux, who said he had been 
to California. He had been a trader in New Mexico, and had fol¬ 
lowed the road traveled by traders from the frontier of Missouri 
to Santa Fe. He had probabH gone through what is now New 
Mexico and Arizona into California by the Gila River trail used by 
the Mexicans. His description of California was in the superlative 
degree favorable, so much so that I resolved, if possible, to see that 
wonderfid land, and with others helped to get up a meeting at 
Weston and invited him to make a statement before it in regard to 
the country. At that time when a man moved out West, as soon 
as he was fairly settled he wanted to move again, and naturally 
ever^" question imaginable was asked in regard to this wonderful 
country. Rubideaux described it as one of perennial spring and 
boundless fertility, and laid stress on the countless thousands of 
wild horses and cattle. He told about oranges, and hence must 
have been at Los Angeles, or the mission of San Gabriel, a few miles 
from it.” 

It is needless to add that such stories fired the love of adventure 
in the breasts of the young men, and they proceeded at once to 
organize a company to explore the promised land, to rendezvous at 
Sapling Grove, Kansas, on the 9th of May, 1841, all to be armed 
and equipped to cross the Rockj" Mountains to California. Bidwell 
threw his whole energ3' into this movement, and soon there were 
about five hundred people pledged to join the train from Platte 
Count^L 

In March, however, an account was published in the press ad¬ 
verse to California. The merchants of Platte County, who cer- 
tainH had cause to regret the prospective removal of five hun¬ 
dred of their patrons, did their utmost to break up the movement, 
and out of the five hundred who had signed the pledge to go 
from Platte County, Bidwell was the only one who made his ap¬ 
pearance at the rendezvous. He had barely enough money to get 
his supplies, but at Weston and other points he was joined by 


GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL. 


11 


Others. A man named Bartleson, from Jackson County, Missouri, 
was chosen leader because he wouldn’t go if he couldn’t be captain. 

This companj^, which was destined to become famous as the 
first to cross the plains and mountains to California, consisted of 
sixty-nine men, women and children. 

At this day it seems absurd that when they were at last ready 
to start they did not know which way to go. According to their 
maps, there was somewhere on the great plains a lake three hun¬ 
dred miles in length, and that lake was drained by two mighty 
rivers, which flowed westward and emptied into the Pacific. That 
which every school boy would today recognize as a false map was 
then accepted as a guide. The national boundaries as we know 
them today contained three distinct subdivisions. Upon the Atlan¬ 
tic Coast was the growing nation. Upon the Pacific Coast was a 
people possessing a fair type of Spanish civilization, and yet so 
secluded from the remainder of the world that as little was known 
of them as of the inhabitants of the Chinese Empire. While Wash¬ 
ington was leading the revolt against the tj^ranny of England, 
these people were following a pastoral life, undisturbed by any force 
from without or within their territory. They knew no other duty 
than to eat and drink, to live and die, and support a domineering 
priesthood. Their governmental experience consisted of being taxed. 
They had no further ambition. They had not energy to govern 
themselves, and when Americans took possession they lacked the 
force of character which would have prompted any other race of 
people to prevent submission to foreign power. 

Between the civilization of the east and the civilization of the 
west lay nearly half of our present country wholly unexplored 
and unknown to the people of either coast. Such was the condition 
a half a century ago when John Bid well was rallying the people of 
Missouri to join him in exploring the far west. And the man who 
was a voter at that time is still alive and does not rank as ex¬ 
tremely old except when we consider the marvelous achievements of 
his generation. 

But the hour had struck for the peopling of California by a more 
progressive race. In this same year when the band of pioneers 
were wending their way across the plains there was sent from 
California to the Sandwich Islands a small quantity of gold, which 
eventually found its way to Boston. Contrary to popular belief, 
no less than three men had taken gold from the soil before 1848. It 
is probable that a hundred Americans had found their way into 
California to make their homes, going by round-about ways, before 
the arrival of Bidwell’s party, and no force could have restrained 


12 


P.IOCrRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


its development many years. YeSvSels were becoming- more common 
on the Pacihc, taken thither by the development of Australia and 
the Pacific Islands. These Americans consisted of trappers from the 
Rocky mountains; a few traders who had operated in Mexico and 
made their way northward ; employees of the Hudson Bay Com¬ 
pany, who had come southward from Oregon; gangs of horse 
thieves who made their way across the Alojave desert to prey upon 
the large droves of stock in Southern California; and the most 
numerous class of all, deserting sailors, who preferred this wild 
country to service under overhearing ship-officers. That such a rep¬ 
resentation should not inspire the native Californians with respect 
for the nation on the other vside of the continent w^is natural, and 
3 ’'et it is not strange that the forerunners of civilization should be 
the least civilized of their race. 

Thus it was that the WcvStern Emigration Society, which was 
the name assumed by the j^arty, knew not what route to adopt to 
reach their destination, and while they waited in indecision they 
learned of an approaching company of Catholic Missionaries who 
•were making their way to the country of the Flathead Indians 
under the guidance of an old Rocky mountaineer named Captain 
Fitz])a trick. The Rid well party joined thCvSe missionaries and in 
their com])atiy crossed the northeavStern corner of Kansas, diagon- 
alh’ through what is now Nebraska, westerly through the cxnintrv 
w'e know as Wyoming, into the present Territory of Idaho, where 
the missionaries branched ofi' to the north. This is practically the 
route adopted by Fremont a year later and by the Mormons six 
years later. In view of these facts it w’as an ap])ropriate title 
which was conferred upon General F'remont, the Path F'inder. He 
found the jjath Bidwell’s part\' had made. Hut the difierence be¬ 
tween the two parties w^ls that BidwelFs men were verv poor and 
relied tipon themselves entirely, it having been said that the part 3 ^ 
probably did not have $100 in money with them, while Fremont’s 
party had been well fitted out by the government. It was an 
heroic trip under the best of circumstances. What was it then 
under the ])oorevSt of circumstances ? 

In the party of missionaries were Father De Smet (in charge), 
F'ather Pont, Father Mengarini, and ten or eleven French Cana¬ 
dians, a mountaineer named John Gray, and two men named 
respectively Romaine and Baker. 

Gederal BidwelFs account of his experience is so complete and 
entertaining that we cannot forego making extensive quotations. 
He writes: 

“ P'ather De vSmet had been to the F^lathead Nation before. He 


GENERAL JOHN HIDWELL. 


13 


had gone ovit with a trapping party, and on his return had traveled 
with onh^ a guide l:)y another route, farther to the north and 
through hostile tribes. He was genial, of line presence, and one of 
the saintliest men I have ever known, and I eannot w'onder that 
the Indians were made to believe him divineh^ protected. He was a 
man of great kindness and great affability under all circumstances; 
notliing seemed to disturb his temper. The Canadians had mules 
and Red River carts, instead of wagons and hor.ses,—two mules to 
each cart, live or six of them,—and in case of steep hills, they would 
hitch three or four mules to one cart, always working them tandem. 
Sometimes a cart would go over, breaking everything in it to 
pieces; and at such times Father De Smet wovdd be just the same— 
bearing all with good humor. 

“ In general, our route lay from near Westport, where Kansas 
City now is, northwesterlv over tlie prairie, crossing several 
streams, till we struck the Platte River. Then we followed along 
the south side of the Platte to and a day’s joxirncy or so along the 
South Fork. Here the features of the cx)untry became more bold 
and interesting. Then crossing the South Fork of the Platte, and 
following up the north side for a day or so, we w’ent over to the 
North Fork and camped at Ash Hollow: thence up the north side 
of that fork, passing those noted landmarks known as the Court 
House Rocks, Chimney Rock, Scott’s Bluffs, etc., till we came to 
Fort Laramie, a trading post of the American Fur Company, near 
which was Lupton’s Fort, belonging, as I understood, to some 
rival company. Thence, after several days, we came to another 
noted landmark, called Independence Rock, on a branch of the 
North Platte called the Sweetwater, which we followed up to the 
head, soon after striking the Little Sandy, which empties into the 
Green River. Next we crossed Green River to Black Fork, at 
the head of which we crossed the divide between Green and Rear 
Rivers. Then we followed Bear River down to Soda Springs.” 

Here it was that the two parties separated, one going to the 
northward to spread the Gospel, the other to the southwest to par¬ 
ticipate in the building of a grand commonwealth. 

Up to this point the trij) had been most jxleasant. The coloniz¬ 
ers had been freed from much of the responsibilitv by the careful 
guides, and there were many interesting and some amusing episodes 
on the tnp. Captain Fitzpatrick and the missionary ])artv led the 
procession of teams and the colonizers wouhl follow. When there 
was danger from Indians the procession would keep in compact 
form. In places it became necessary to construct a road to allow 
the wagons to pass and there was plenty of work for all. .4t night 


14 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


the wagons would be drawn up in the form of a hollow square* 
thus impounding the animals and furnishing protection in case of 
attack. 

On one occasion a man named Dawson was separated from the 
party while hunting. About forty Cheyenne Indians appeared and 
he became so excited that he tore off his clothes and attempted to 
shoot the Indians without regard to their mission. They were 
disposed to be friendly, however, and after overpowering him and 
taking away his pistol, they let him go. He caused a general stam¬ 
pede in the train of inexperienced men by declaring that he had been 
attacked and robbed by a thousand Indians. It was with difficulty 
the train was brought into defensive form, and then the guide rode 
forward and learned the true condition of matters from the Indians, 
who returned the pistol. From that time on the hunter went by 
the name of Cheyenne Dawson. 

While traveling along the Platte the party fell in with vast 
herds of buffalos. The Indians had never been wasteful of animal 
life, and while thej' retained sole possession of the plains the buf¬ 
falos had multiplied rapidly and herded together in droves untold 
miles in length, awaiting the advent of civilized man to extermin¬ 
ate their race. The wild man killed only for robes or food, and 
devoured all the meat. The civilized man killed for sport and to get 
buffalo tongues to eat. But in that day the buffalos had but 
slightly diminished in number, and General Bidwell says he saw the 
plaiiis black with them for several days’ journe 3 ' as far as the eye 
could reach, and they swam the Platte river in such herds that the 
water became discolored and was unfit to drink. 

The General recounts that one night such a vast herd appeared 
that to prevent the caravan being trampled into the dust it became 
necessar\^ to go out some distance and turn the herd by building 
fires and shooting guns. All night long they heard the procession 
of bison rushing by and the ground fairl}" trembled so great was 
their number. 

The pioneers had a view of nature in her most terrible aspect 
while following the Platte. 

A terrific shower came on. A cold wave of air pelted the earth 
with hail stones, some of which were two inches in diameter, until 
the ground was covered four inches deep. The presence of this 
shifting wave of cold air caused a convulsion of the atmosphere and 
a destro 3 nng cyclone raged near them. The pioneers were unused 
to dealing with the elements in their fur 3 q and when they saw the 
whirlwind approaching the 3 ^ endeavored to hold the wagons in 


GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL. 


15 


place bracing themselves against them. Fortunately the cyclone 
passed in their rear without damage. 

It was not until they neared Green River and the Rocky Mount¬ 
ains that it was found that a number of the emigrants had alcohol 
concealed in their wagons and John Gray was sent ahead to find 
trapper^ to whom the drink could be sold. He was successful, and 
the alcohol was diluted and sold under the name of whisky. The 
trappers, after leaving the caravan, fell in with Indians and a fight 
ensued and several of the trappers were killed. 

We have said that too often the advance guard of civilization is 
possessed of few of the attributes of the civilization they repre¬ 
sent. There has been no better illustration of this fact than the 
evil wrought by alcoholic stimulants used by early settlers and 
introduced among the Indians. In fact had the question been sub¬ 
mitted to an Indian on the frontier at any time before the advent 
of schools and churches what constituted the characteristics of our 
race, his answer must have been the possession of fire water and 
fire-arms, the two destructive forces of the age. And had some 
philosophic wild man of the plains undertaken to draw in his mind 
a fancy sketch of the people who were crowding his race to the 
wall, piecing on to the known facts , fancies in harmony with the 
known, as our naturalists build up a fancied animal from the frag- 
mentarj" bones of extinct races, he would have seen a more grue¬ 
some character than ever eminated from the diseased fancy of a 
poet, or victim of delirium. In our civilized life, with the evils of 
intemperance hedged about with a thousand institutions for en¬ 
nobling mankind, we still see the destructive work of intemperance. 
But that American citizen does not live who does not recognize in 
intemperance an enem\’' of his civilization, his religion, if he has one, 
and his moral code, no matter of how “free-minded” a type. But 
to the Indian fire water and fire arms were the s\^mbols of civiliza¬ 
tion and usually the cymbals as well. 

There are certain chemicals that have an affinity for one an¬ 
other. Did not the finding of an affinitj^ in liquor bj^ the Indian 
demonstrate, on chemical grounds, that liquor drinking is a bar¬ 
barous adjunct to our civilization ? And can barbarity and civiliza¬ 
tion meet? Yes, like oil and water. One must come to the top. 
This is the basis of the campaign which calls forth this sketch. It 
is the belief of General Bidwell that civilization must rise and bar¬ 
barism fall. The reader may or may not agree with him. But 
he must take his choice at the polls between civilization and bar¬ 
barism. 

We will suppose that while the reader has been subjected to the 


16 


RIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


above gratuitous lecture the caravan has been halting at Soda 
Springs, now in Idaho, deciding their future course. One of the 
party had ))een accidentally killed, four had dCvSerted, and there were 
but sixty-four remaining. Exactly half of them decided to go with 
the missionaries to the north and hnd their way down the Snake 
and Columbia rivers into Oregon, where they arrived safely. The 
other half, steadfast in their purpose, adhered to their intention to 
make directly for California, knowing only that it lay to the west. 

The party divided with bitter regret. Especially does it seem to 
have been a trial to separate from the good F'ather De Smet. 

E'our men were sent to Fort Hall, hftv miles to the north, to 
make inquiries regarding their route, and hnalh’^ returned with in¬ 
structions to strike out west of Salt Lake, then known only to the 
trappers, being warned against a waterless country to the south 
and a .scries of can\a)ns to the north. Between these two for1)idding 
countries the party must pick their way. 

General Bid well tells an anecdote in the Century that shows the 
kind of boy he was. He sa\'s; 

“In company with a man named James John—always called 
‘Jimmy John’—I wandered a mile or two down the river fishing. 
Seeing snow on a high mountain to the west we longed to reach it, 
for the hicat where we were was intense. So, without losing time 
to get our guns or coats, or to give notice at the camp, we started 
direct for the snow, with the im])ression that we could go and re¬ 
turn by sundown. But there intervened a range of lower moun¬ 
tains, a certain peak of which .seemed almost to touch the snow. 
Both of us were fleet of foot and made haste, but we only gained 
the summit of the peak about sundown. The distance must have 
been twelve or fifteen miles. A valley intervened, and the snow lay 
on a higher mountain beyond. I proposed to camp. But Jimmy 
gave me a disdainful look, as much as to say,‘You are afraid to go,’ 
and quickened his gait into a run down the mountain toward the 
snow. I called to him to stop, but he would not even look back. 
A firm resolve .seized me—to overtake him, but not again to ask him 
to return. We crossed the valley in the night, saw manv Indian 
camp tires, and gained a sharp ridge leading up to the snow. This 
was first brushy and then rough and rocky. The brush had no 
paths except those made by wild animals; the rocks were sharp, 
and soon cut through our moccasins and made our feet bleed. But 
up and iq) we went until long after midnight, and until a cloud 
covered the mountain. We were above the timber line, excepting a 
few stunted fir trees, under one of which we crawled to wait for day 
for it was too dark to see. Day soon dawned, but we were almost 


GENERAL JOHN RIDWELL. 


17 


frozen. Onr fir tree nest had been the lair of grizzy bears that had 
wallowed there and shed quantities of shaggj^ hair. The snow’ was 
still beyond, and we had lOvSt both sight and direction. But in an 
hour or two we had reached it. It was nearly as hard as ice. Fill¬ 
ing a large handkerchief, w'ithout taking time to admire the scenery 
we started toward the camp by a ncw’ route, for our feet w^ere too 
sore to go by w^ay of the rocky ridge we had come. But the new 
way led into trouble. There w’ere thickets so dense as to exclude 
the sun, and roaring little streams in deep, dark chasms; w’e had to 
crawl through paths which looked untrodden except by grizzlies; 
in one place a large bear had passed evidently only a few’ minutes 
before, crossing the deep gorge, plunging through the wild, dashing 
water and w etting the steep bank as we went up. We carried our 
drawn butcher knives in our hands, for they w^ere our only w’eapons. 
At last W’e emerged into the valley. Ap])arently numerous Indians 
had left that very morning, as shown by tracks of lodge ])oles 
drawn! on the ground. Making haste, w’e soon gained the hills, and 
at abotit twn) p.m. sighted our wagons, already two or three miles 
on the march. When our friends saw’ us they stopped, and all w’ho 
could ran to w’elcome us. They had given us up for lost, supposing 
that w^e had been killed by the hostile Blackfeet, w’ho, as Captain 
Fitzpatrick had w'arned us, sometimes roamed through that region. 
The company had barncaded the camp at night as best thej’ could, 
and every man had spent a sleepless night on guard. Next morning 
they passed several hours in .scouring the country. Their first ques¬ 
tions w’ere, ‘Where have you been?’ ‘Where have you been?’ I 
was able to answ^er triumphantly, ‘ We have been up to the snow!* 
and to demonstrate the fact by show’ing all the snow I had left, 
which was now’ reduced to a ball about the size of my fi.st.” 

It was September when the ])art\’ reached the northern extrem¬ 
ity of Salt Lake. Here they ex])erienced severe thirst for the first 
time. But they were not the last to experience it. Thirst! It has 
been the horror of the west for fift\’ years. Thirst! The w’ord has 
no meaning to you wdio have never traveled a mile for a drink, but 
to that wayfarer on the salt-encrusted desert to this day it is a 
vision of hell. He has had his .supply of water, but he sees it grow¬ 
ing low. He begins to weigh the prospective di.stance to water 
against the ])resent supply, and just as he reflects upon the subject 
of water his longing for it increa.ses, so delicately connected are 
mind and body. He grow’S nervous as he reflects on the horrors of 
thirst. He measures out to himself from his scanty supply, almost 
counting the drops. The distance to a new svq)])ly is a matter of 
speculation, but at last he takes the last drop and trusts to favor- 


18 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 

able fortune for the future. He is too well skilled in desert matters 
to be allured from his path by the beautiful lake that invites him 
toward the horizon. He knows it is a false lake, a mirage. He has 
hope only in a straight course, and he maintains it. But at last he 
grows terribly weary. His tongue swells and protrudes slightly 
from his mouth. His bones and muscles ache as with the ague. His 
agony is relieved by stupor. His feet drag upon the ground. He 
staggers. At last he falls. His lips crack open and blood oozes 
from them. Then what? From that place the writer once arose 
and forced his way on to water. But the plains of the great West 
are strewn with the bones of men and animals who never rose. 
Their number is increased yearly. There is no other page in the 
history of the frontier so horrible as that which speaks of the suf¬ 
fering from thirst, and it covers a period from the days of the first 
emigrant train to the present time. 

Fortunately, the first emigrant train lost none of its force of 
men from this cause, though their suffering at times was great. 
They were successful in finding pasture for their animals during a 
needed rest and the^^ dispatched two men to explore the country. 
After an absence of five days they returned and guided the caravan 
around the northern end of Salt Lake. Then came two or three 
days hard marching across desert, passing a da.y and night without 
water. At last, however, they came to good pasture and water 
again. 

Thus far their travels had been impeded by the wagons, and 
thev looked forward with fear of being overtaken by winter before 
reaching California. Hence they left their wagons and everything 
possible to dispense with, packed their chattels upon the animals 
and pressed on again. 

Packing the animals was comparatively successful, so far as the 
mules and horses were concerned. But the oxen did not seem to be 
adapted to this method of bearing burdens, and as Bidwell had 
oxen he was caused great trouble, and was often in the rear. 

Captain Bartleson had formed a dislike for Bidwell, owing to 
the latter having criticised the Captain’s methods of dealing with 
Indians. This led to an effort on the part of Bartleson to desert 
Bidwell on the plains. Bidwell’s oxen got away with his provisions 
on their backs, and, of course, he had to go in search of them. He 
met with many mishaps to delay him, and when he finally found 
the oxen and returned he found the party had left hours before. 
There were many Indian fires about and matters looked desperate 
enough. But Bidwell had many friends, and two of them returned 


\ 




GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL. 


19 


to his assistance contrary to the Captain’s orders, and he was able 
to overtake the caravan. 

Passing over a rough country, the party finally entered the 
wash of a river to which Fremont four years later, when he first 
saw it, gave the name of Humboldt, and which is in the country 
now known as Nevada. They followed this stream for many miles 
to the sink, where the river disappears. 

They fell in at this point with that degraded race of Indians, 
the Diggers, and had an experience in partaking of their food. The 
main food supply of these Indians to this day is grasshoppers, 
acorns and bugs. They visit the upper Sacramento valley annually 
and are a great aid to the farmers as exterminators of grass¬ 
hoppers, of which they consume hundreds of bushels each year. 
The occasional injury to crops by the pest is the bountiful harvest 
of the Diggers. 

The emigrants purchased food of the Indians and partook of it 
with great relish, until they learned that it consisted of a kind of 
bug scraped from the tubes growing in great quantities in the Hum¬ 
boldt marshes. 

During the next few days the Captain and eight of his followers 
made four ineffectual efforts to desert the men with the cattle, but 
were each time obliged to return for food, it then being necessary to 
rely on the cattle for food, killing one whenever necessary. 

The company were probably the first white men to cross the 
Carson and Walker rivers, which were given these names four years 
later bj^ Fremont in honor of Kit Carson and Joe Walker. 

By making a detour to the south in order to lessen the danger 
of winter overtaking them in the mountains they missed the 
Truckee Meadows and the picturesque Lake Tahoe near the sum¬ 
mit of the Sierra Nevadas, which is on the line of the later emigrant 
trains and of the Central Pacific railroad. 

We will let General Bidwell tell his own story of his entrance 
into glorious California: 

“We were now in what is at present Nevada, and probably 
within forty miles of the present boundary of California. We 
ascended the mountains on the north side of Walker River to the 
summit, and then struck a stream running west which proved to 
be the extreme source of the Stanislaus River. We followed it 
down for several days, and finally came to where a branch ran into 
it, each forming a canyon. The main river flowed in a precipitous 
gorge in places apparently a mile deep, and the gorge that came 
into it was little less formidable. At night we found ourselves on 
the extreme point of the promontory between the two, very tired, 


20 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


and with neither j^rass nor water. AVe had to stay there that night. 
Early the next morning two men went down to see if* it would be 
possible to get through down the smaller canyon. I was one of 
them, Jimmy John the other. Benjamin Kelsey, who had shown 
himself expert in finding the way, was now, without any election, 
still recognized as leader, as he had been during the absence of Bartle- 
son. A part^'^ also went back to see how far we should have to go 
around before we eould pass over the tributary canyon. The un¬ 
derstanding was that when we went down the canyon if it was 
practicable to get through we were to fire a gun, so that all could 
follow; but if not, we were not to fire, even if we saw game, 
AVhen Jimmy and I got down about threc-ciuarters of a mile 1 came 
to the conclusion that it was im])ossible to get through, and said 
to him; ‘Jimmy, we might as well go back, we can't go here.’ 
‘Yes we can,’ said he, and insisting that we could, he pulled out a 
pistol and fired. It was an old dragoon pistol and reverberated 
like a cannon. I hurried back to tell the company not to come 
down, but before I reached them the Captain and his party had 
started. I explained and warned them that they could not get 
down; but they went on as far as they could go, and then were 
obliged to stay all day and night to rest the animals,'and had to go 
about among the rocks and pick a little grass for them, and go 
down to the stream through a little place in the canyon to bring 
water up in cups and camp kettles, and some of the men in their 
boots, and pour down the animals’ throats to keep them from per¬ 
ishing. Finally, four of them pulling and four of them pushing a 
mule, they managed to get them up one by one, and then carried 
the things up again on their backs—not an easy job for exhausted 
men. 

“ In some way, nobody knows how, Jimmy got through that 
canA'on and into the Sacramento valley. He had a horse with him 
—an Indian horse, that was bought in the Rocky mountains, and 
which could come as near climbing a tree as any horse I ever knew. 
Jimmy was a character. Of all the men I have ever known, I think 
he was the most fearless; he had the bravery of a bulldog. He was 
not seen for two months, until he was found at Sutters, afterwards 
known as Sutter’s Fort, now Sacramento city. 

“We went on, traveling west as near as we could. When we 
killed our last ox we shot and ate crows or anything we could kill, 
and one man shot a wild-cat. We could eat anything. One day in 
the morning I went ahead, on foot, of course, to see if I could kill 
something, it being understood that the company would keep on as 
near west as possible and find a practicable road. I followed an 



GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL. 


21 


Indian trail down into the canyon, meeting- many Indians on the 
way up. They did not molest me, but I did not quite like their 
looks. I went about ten miles down the canyon, and then began to 
think it time to strike north to intersect the trail of the company 
going west. A most difficult time I had scaling the precipice. Once 
I threw my gun uj) ahead of me, being unable to hold it and climb, 
and then was in des])air lest I could not get up where it was, but 
finally I did barely manage to do so, and made m\' way north. AvS 
the darkness came on I was obliged to look down and feel with my 
feet lest I should pass over the trail of the party without seeing it. 
Just at dark 1 came to an enormous fallen tree and tried to go 
around the top, but the place was too brushy, so I went around the 
butt, which seemed to me to be twenty or twenty-five feet above 
my head. This I suppose to have been one of the fallen trees in the 
Calaveras grove of Sequoia gigantea, or mammoth trees, as I have 
since been there and to m 3 ' own satisfaction identified the la\' of the 
land and the trees. Hence 1 concluded that I must have been the 
first white man who ever saw the Sequoia gigantea of which I told 
Fremont when he came to California in 1844. Of course, sleep was 
impossible, for I had neither Ijlanket nor coat, and burned or froze 
alternateh'as I turned from one side to the other before the small fire 
which I had built, until morning, when I started ea.stward to inter¬ 
sect the trail, thinking the company had turned north. But I trav¬ 
eled until noon and found no trail; then, striking south, I came to 
the camp which I had left the previous morning. The part 3 ' had 
gone, but not where the\' said the 3 ' would go, for tl^w had taken 
the same trail I had followed, into the cain'on, and had gone up the 
south side, which they had found so steej) that manv of the ])oor 
animals could not climb it and had to be left. When I arrived the 
Indians were there cutting the horses to pieces and cariwing oft' the 
meat. My situation, alone among strange Indians, killing our poor 
horses, was bv no means comfortable. Afterwards we found that 
these Indians were alwavs at war with the Californians. They 
were known as the Horse Thief Indians, and lived chieft 3 ' on horse 
flesh; the}' had been in the habit of raiding the ranches, even to the 
very coast, driving away horses b}^ the hundreds, into the moun¬ 
tains to eat. That night after dark I overtook the party in camp. 

“A day or two later we came to a place where there was a great 
quantit}' of horse bones, and we did not know what it meant; we 
thought that an arm}' must have perished there. They were, of 
course, horses that the Indians had driven in there and slaughtered. 
A few nights later, fearing depredations, we concluded to stand 
guard—all but one man who would not. So we let his two horses 


22 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


roam where they pleased. In the morning they could not be found. 
A few miles away we came to a village; the Indians had fled, but 
we found the horses killed and some of the meat roasting on a fire. 

“We were now on the edge of the San Joaquin valley, but we 
did not even know that we were in California. We could see a 
range of mountains lying to the west—the Coast range—but we 
could see no valley. The evening of the day we started down into 
the valley we were very tired, and when night came our party was 
strung along for three or four miles, and every man slept right 
where darkness overtook him. He would take off his saddle for a 
pillow and turn his horse or mule loose, if he had one. His animal 
would be too poor to walk away, and in the morning he would find 
him, usually within fifty feet. The jaded horses nearly perished with 
hunger and fatigue. When we overtook the foremost of the party 
the next morning we found they had come to a pond of water, and 
one of them had killed a fat coyote. When I came up it was all 
eaten except the lights and windpipe, on which I made my break¬ 
fast. From that camp we saw timber to the north of us, evidently 
bordering a stream running west. It turned out to be the stream 
we had followed down in the mountains—the Stanislaus river. As 
soon as we came in sight of the bottom land of the stream we saw 
an abundance of antelopes and sand hill cranes. We killed two of 
each the first evening. Wild grapes also abounded. The next day 
we killed thirteen deer and antelopes, jerked the meat and got readj’’ 
to go on, all except the captain’s mess of seven or eight, who de¬ 
cided to stay there and lay in meat enough to last them into Cali¬ 
fornia ! We were really almost down to tidewater, but did not 
know it. Some thought it was five hundred miles yet to California. 
But all thought we had to cross at least that range of mountains 
in sight to the west before entering the promised land, and how 
many more beyond no one could tell. Nearly all thought it best to 
press on lest the snows might overtake us in the mountains before 
us, as they had already nearlv done on the mountains behind us 
(the Sierra Nevada). It was now about the first of November. 
Our party set forth bearing northwest, aiming for a seeming gap 
north of a high mountain in the chain to the west of us. That 
mountain we found to be Mount Diablo. At night the Indians at¬ 
tacked the captain’s camp and stole all their animals, which were 
the best in the company, and the next day the men had to overtake 
us with just what they could carry in their hands. 

“The next day, judging by the timber we saw, we concluded 
there was a river to the west. So two men went ahead to see if 
they could find a trail or a crossing. The timber seen proved to 


GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL. 


2S 


be along what is now known as the San Joaquin River. We sent 
two men on ahead to spy out the country. At night one of them 
returned, saying they had come across an Indian on horseback, 
without a saddle, who wore a cloth jacket but no other clothing. 
From what they could understand the Indian knew Dr. Marsh and 
had offered to guide them to his place. He plainly said “Marsh,” 
and of course we supposed it was the Dr. Marsh before referred to, 
who had written the letter to a friend in Jackson County, Missouri, 
and so it proved. One man went with the Indian to Marsh’s ranch 
and the other came back to tell us what he had done, with the sug¬ 
gestion that we should go on and cross the river (San Joaquin) at 
the place to which the trail was leading. In that way we found 
ourselves, two days later, at Dr. Marsh’s ranch, and there we 
learned that we were really in California and our journey at an 
end. After six months, we had now arrived at the first settlement 
in California, November 4, 1841.” 

On election day, 1892, it will be almost exactly fifty-one j^ears 
from the day the members of the first emigrant party across the 
plains learned their destination was reached. Only fifty-one years, 
and what a contrast! Then 100 Americans. Today a million and 
a third. Then minerals unknown, though the caravan had passed 
near places where subsequently miners were expected to make their 
fortune from ten square feet of dirt. Then, but few acres of wheat, 
though today the State ranks first as a wheat producer. Then, no 
fruit except a few trees about the widely scattered missions. Today 
the producer of every kind of fruit in its best form. Then, millions 
of acres wasting their product or producing nothing for want of 
water. Today, the water flowing from the mountains for scores of 
miles through ditches and flumes to quench the thirst of the land 
and make it yield most bountifully. 

Yet, what could these pioneers see when they first arrived to 
warrant the hope that they were to prosper here ? There was an 
abundance of land, but had they not seen untold millions of acres 
available for settlement before they entered California ? They could 
note the productive qualitj^ of the land, but where could they find 
a market for their produce ? They could raise vast herds of cattle, 
but what would they do with them? Manifestily, all that was in 
sight for them to do was to resort to primitive methods, each man 
producing as near as possible all that he could desire in the form of 
food, clothing and luxuries. 

It is proverbially the custom in all growing countries to explain 
the uncomfortable features of the climate by the expression : “ This 

is an uncommon season.” But it was more than a cant phrase in 


24. 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OK 


1841. The previous winter there had been but very little rain and 
the mountains failed to get their usual allowance of snow. The 
consequence was a general drouth. Dr. Marsh was not in condi¬ 
tion to keep the company over winter, and the 3 ’- scattered in differ¬ 
ent directions to seek a living as best they could. But before leav¬ 
ing. his ranch it was necessary to have passports. Bidwell supplied 
the Doctor with a list of the names of the members of the party, 
and the Doctor went to San Jose and got the passports from Gov¬ 
ernor Vallejo, there being no fee for the issuance of them. But 
Doctor Marsh falsely represented to the party that a fee of $5 was 
charged. Nine-tenths of the party were entireh^ without money 
and not one of them had as much as $5. Thus it became necessary 
for them to give to the penurious Doctor all their most valuable 
chattels in lieu of money. Then it was discovered that passports 
had been .secured for all but Bidwell, the Doctor intending by neg¬ 
lecting to get his pass])ort to force him to remain over winter. 
Having a quick wit combined with physical strength he would have 
been a most valuable man on the ranch. But Bidwell was inde¬ 
pendent and left for San Jose, forty miles to the south, to get his 
own ])ass])ort. But no sooner did he reach the town than he was 
arrested and thrown into jail in the companx" of five Indian horse 
thieves, where he was kept three days without food. At last he 
saw an .American through a small grating and called to him. This 
American went to Governor Vallejo and secured a passport for Bid- 
well, and he was liberated. 

It would be impossible at this juncture to avoid speaking of a 
gentleman who undoubtedly had a marked influence in forming the 
character of General Bidwell. 

John A. Sutter was a native of Baden, of Swiss parents. He 
was a gentleman of the highest degree of refinement. He came to 
the United States in early life and went to St. Louis, from which 
point he visited the Rockx^ mountains, and finally found his way 
doxxm the Columbia river to Vancouver. While there he decided to 
attempt to found a colony in Califoniia, of which he had most 
favorable reports, and xvent to the Sandxvich Islands to secure the 
necessary credit for the undertaking. Then there was no vessel to 
California from the i.slands, and it xxms necessary to take a Russian 
A'cssel and go to Sitka, .41aska, and from there xvork his xvay south- 
xxmrd along the coast as be.st he could. He landed in California in 
1840 xx'ith six natives of the Sandwich Islands, expecting to eventu¬ 
ally draw colonists from the United States and Europe. Governor 
Alvarado gave consent to the founding of the colony, and Sutter 
explored the central poilion of the State and finally chose the point 


OKNERAl. JOHN BIDWEM.. 


25 


destined to be the head of navi^^ation on the Sacramento river, 
where now is Sacramento, the capital of the State. To his colony 
he gfave the name of New Helvetia, but ever^-^where it was known 
as “Sutter’s”, and later as “Sutter’s Fort.” When the Sacramento 
River became the main thoroughfare between San FrancivSco and 
the mines, Sacramento was .second in importance of California 
towns, but in 1841 it was the onlv civilized .settlement between the 
Coast Range of mountains and the Sierra Nevadas. 

Between Dr. Marsh’s and Sutter’s lay a hundred miles of forbid¬ 
ding territory, but Bidwell and three companions set out to make 
the trip, hoping to find employment with Sutter. Winter was on in 
earnest, not the snowy winter of the East, but the genuine Califor¬ 
nia winter, which implies heavy rainfalls in periods of a week or 
more, coming at any time from fall to spring. Every rivulet 
becomes a brook, every brook a river and every river a raging 
torrent, often, along the Sacramento valley, all breaking their 
banks, and inundating vast areas. Under these discouraging cir¬ 
cumstances it recpiired eight da 3 "S to make the trip. But a singular 
incident was that while the four men were endeavoring to find 
Sutter’s, Sutter’s men were hunting for the partv. 

Jimmy John, who made his escape from the caiyvon with the 
horse that could almost “climb a tree”, had found his way to 
Sutter’s and that hospitable man had immediateh^ sent out a force 
of men to hunt for his companions, and had sent along two mules 
loaded with provisions. They found the trail and followed it to 
Marsh’s. 

Here Bidwell found his finst emplovunent in the countr^^ his 
work being to remove cattle, horses, cannon, etc., to Sutter’s from 
the old fur depots of the Russian-American Fur Compain' at 
Bodega and Fort Ross, Sutter having purchased their ])ropert 3 ". 
The cannon had a histor}'. The\' were old ])ieces which had been 
left behind by Napoleon on his retreat from Moscow and brought 
to California Iw the Russians. It does not a])pear that an\' active 
service was found for them on American soil, but they unque.stion- 
ably gave importance to Sutter’s fort as a refuge for Americans. 

About the time of the arrival of the immigrants there was talk 
of dispos.sessing Sutter of his property. The doughty Swiss there¬ 
upon wrote to the authorities that he wanted to hear no more talk 
of his being dispossessed, as he was able to defend himself or punish 
the Mexicans if necessary. This led to a change in Governors, the 
new appointee, however, being friendly to Sutter. 

Sutter recognized the intelligence and integrity of Bidwell and 
placed him in charge of his Hock farm in 1843, with several hun- 



26 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


dred men under his control at times. This was an important post 
for a 3 ^oung man of twenty-four years, but he proved himself 
worthy of confidence and was gradually entrusted with greater 
missions. 

General Bidwell gives the following account of affairs as they 
existed at Sutter’s: 

“Nearly everybody who came to California made it a point to 
reach Sutter’s Fort. Sutter was one of the most liberal and hospi¬ 
table of men. Everj'-bod^’- was welcome—one man or a hundred, it 
was all the same. He had peculiar traits; his necessities compelled 
him to take all he could bu}^, and he paid all he could pa\'; but he 
failed to keep up with his pajmients. And so he soon found himself 
immensely—almost hopelessl^^—involved in debt. His debt to the 
Russians amounted at first to something near one hundred thou¬ 
sand dollars. Interest increased apace. He had agreed to pay in 
wheat, but his crops failed. He struggled in everj^ way, sowing 
large areas to wheat, increasing his cattle and horses, and tr\fing to 
build a flouring mill. He kept his launch running to and from the 
ba\", carr 3 fing down hides, tallow, furs, wheat, etc., returning with 
lumber, sawed b 3 ' hand in the redwood groves nearest the ba 3 ^, and 
other supplies. On an average it took a month to make a trip. 
The fare for each person was five dollars, including board. Sutter 
started many other new enterprises in order to find relief from his 
embarrassments, but, in spite of all he could do, these increased. 
Every year found him worse and worse off; but it was partly his 
own fault. He employed men, not because he always needed and 
could profitabh" emplo 3 ^ them, but because in the kindness of his 
heart it simply became a habit to employ eveiwbody who wanted 
emplo 3 'ment. As long as he had an 3 ^thing he trusted an 3 "one with 
anything he wanted—responsible or otherwise, acquaintances and 
strangers alike. Most of the labor was done b 3 " Indians, chiefly 
wild ones, except a few from the Missions, who spoke Spanish.’’ 

The arrival of Bidwell’s party was simply the beginning of an 
almost continuous stream of immigration, and what did not seem 
probable on their arrival really happened, in a few 3 "ears the entire 
area of California becoming dotted with American settlements, 
thus opening up new pursuits. 

Sutter aimed to meet all the demands of the times and employed 
from 100 to 500 men, including blacksmiths, carpenters, tanners, 
gunsmiths, vaqueros, gardeners, weavers, hunters, saw 3 ’ers, sheep- 
herders, trappers, millwrights and a distiller, for Sutter had the 
instincts of the German race and believed in alcoholic liquor. He 
fortified his fort and had his Indian soldiers well drilled. 


GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL. 


27 


The grain, which was grown in large quantities finalhq was cut 
with sticks with sharp edges or pttlled up, and was then threshed 
by driving horses upon it. These primitive methods made grain 
growing expensive, but the time came when the matter of expense 
cut little figure. 

The wagons in use were rough two-wheeled affairs, the wheels 
consisting of sections of trees, and were always drawn by oxen. It 
was the custom then, as it is among politicians now, to use soft- 
soap as a lubricator, and the effect was the same. The cart 
squeaked as badly as does the “practical politician’s” character. 
The first wagons brought to California came across the plains in 
1844. 

The difficulties of marketing the product are shown by the fact ■ 
that most of the furs and hides were sent to San Diego to load. 
This is much like using the mouth of the St. John’s River in Florida 
for the Atlantic Coast harbor, there being no railroads or coasting 
steamers in the East. 

In its early days California was the resort of all manner of 
impostors. Men with no knowledge of medicine took on the title 
of “Doctor,” as was the case of Dr. Alarsh, Dr. Meeks and others. 

A lawyer named Hastings wanted to secure the independence of 
California and make himself President. He went East and wrote 
a book on California to induce immigration, and was successful to 
a degree, but soon after his return to California it passed into the 
hands of the United States. 

In 1841 a French Canadian named Ruelle discovered gold near 
Los Angeles, in Southern' California, but the mine proved unprofit¬ 
able and it was abandoned, and Ruelle went north. In this same 
year, from some unknown source gold was sent from California to 
the Sandwich Islands and thence to Boston. In 1843 Ruelle applied 
to Sutter and Bidwell for horses, provisions and two Indians to 
prospect in the American River, showing a few grains of gold dust he 
claimed to have found in that river. Sutter and Bidwell considered 
the matter carefully but thought Ruelle simply wanted to get the 
outfit to make his way to Oregon. The waters of the American 
River flow into the Sacramento just above the city of Sacramento. 

It was in this river that gold was subsequently discovered by Mar¬ 
shall in Januarjq 1848, and it is not improbable that Ruelle’s story 
was true and that he really wanted to “prospect” the river. 

A Mexican named Pablo Gutierrez, early in the spring of 1844, 
told Bidwell there was gold in Bear River in the Sierra Nevadas, 
and the two went to the mountains and examined the location. 




28 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


They did not prospect, for the reason that Fiidwell was ignorant of 
mining and the Mexican insisted that it could not be done without 
a hate,!., and Bid well, from the Mexican’s talk thought a hatea to 
be some complicated machinery. The Mexican insisted that it 
could not be made in California, and the matter was indefinitely 
postponed, and subsequently Bidwell learned that a hatea is 
nothing but a wooden bowl. But events transpired which gave 
Americans something to think of beside gold mining. 

Governor Micheltorena, who had realU' been sent from Mexico 
to subdue Sutter’s force when he sent his letter of defiance to the 
authorities, had treated Americans with a friendly spirit. When 
thcN' had complied with the naturalization laws and shown a dis¬ 
position to become law-abiding citizens, he gave their welfare the 
same consideration he did the welfare of native Californians. 

But he was unpopular with three classes—the English and 
French colonists and the native Californians. • The English and 
French looked forward to a time when one of their govemrnents 
would take possession of California, and the native Californians 
wished a return of the days under a native ruler that the\’^ might 
share the revenues. With the aid of these classes Jose Castro 
and ex-Governor Alvafado raised an insurrection against Governor 
Micheltorena, basing their rebellion on the Governor’s alleged par- 
tialit\' for Americans. 

In October, 1844, General Sutter visited the Governor at Mon¬ 
terey, the capital, and took Bidwell with him. At San Jose they 
learned of the insurrection and hurried on to Monterey, being the 
first to break the news to the Governor. A vessel happened to 
touch at Monterey and General Sutter took passage on board for 
San Francisco, whence he made his way home. The insurgents seized 
all the Governor’s horses, leaving his troops on foot. The Governor 
pursued, nevertheless, but no battle occurred. Bidwell left Mon¬ 
terey for Sutter’s P'ort b_v land and met the army. The Governor 
stopped his troops and discussed the situation with Bidwell for half 
an hour, confiding to him all his plans, and- urging that the Ameri¬ 
cans support his cause. Finally Bidwell reached San Jose, and fell 
in with the insurgents. He sa^^s Castro and Alvarado treated him 
like a prince, protested their friendship for Americans, and sent a 
request to Sutter to support them. Reaching Sutter’s Fort, Sutter 
and Bidwell considered the matter and decided to support the Gov¬ 
ernor. Pablo Gutierrez, Bid well’s partner in prospective gold min¬ 
ing, was sent twice with messages to the Governor, the latter time 
being caught by the insurgents and hanged as a spy near the pres¬ 
ent town of Gilroy. The insurrection ended in the expulsion of the 







OKNKRAL JOHN KIOWHLL. 


29 


Governor and the acquisition of that title by Pio F^ico, who recently 
died at Los Angeles. 

Had Lid well been an experienced miner—in fact, had he known 
the simplest rudiments of mining, the discovery of gold would have 
dated several years earlier than it does. For he had heard enough 
to make him determined to prospect for it in the mountains, but 
labored under the impression that extensive machinery was needed. 
As a matter of fact, untold millions of dollars have been washed 
from the.ground within fifty miles of Sutter’s Fort with no more 
complicated machinery than any man could make in a half a daj'. 
In 1845 Bidwell traveled hundreds of miles to Los .\ngeles to study 
the methods of mining in Ruelle’s mine. But the ground was not 
rich, was more difficult to work than the northern placer mines after¬ 
ward discovered, and the Mexicans working the mines were follow¬ 
ing the crudest possible methods. This did not inspire him with 
enthusiasm, and when on his return to Sutter’s Fort he was offered 
the positi<^n of bookkee])er and general business man bj’' General 
Sutter, he accepted. He had, in addition to his other duties, a 
general supervision of the hundreds of men in Sutter’s employ. In 
July, 1845, he visited a force of men at work In the mountains and 
started to prospect for gold in one of the gullies, but without suc¬ 
cess, the terrific heat of the daj' forcing him to abandon the work. 
It was learned in 1848 that this same gully contained a rich de])osit 
of gold, stories being told of men who took out “pint cupfuls before 
breakfast.” Xow, the average miner is a good story teller, but not 
necessarily a liar, and when he assures you that a pint cupful was 
taken out by a man before breakfast the ])robability is that there 
was some gold there. 

It was in March, 1844, that Fremont arrived in California on 
his tour of exploration. He had gone through Eastern Oregon and 
thence had followed down the Sierra Nevada range, crossing the 
mountains near Lake Tahoe and coming down the American River 
to Sutter’s P'ort, thus locating the best route across the mountains, 
ever after the favorite of emigrant parties. 

How often was that rich gold deposit to be crossed before it 
was discovered. Here was Fremont, with his ex])ert scientists, 
traversing that country where Auburn and Placerville and Nevada 
Citv and Grass Valley and Yankee Jim’s and Hutch Flat and 
Hangtown and Michigan Bluff but a few years later drew vast 
crowds of miners to make the State famous, where one could hardly 
wasfi a panful of dirt without “getting the color”, and yet they 
failed to discover the millions they were treading upon. 

Bidwell'urged Fremont to remain and see the wonders of Cali- 






30 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


fornia, including the mammoth trees he had discovered. He re¬ 
mained but three or four weeks, however, and then started on his- 
retum trip to the United States. 

In the fall of 1845 was made a discovery second onl3^ to the 
discovery of gold. It was then Castro and Castillero came as peace 
commissioners from Mexico and visited General Sutter to urge him 
to remain faithful to Mexico, it being feared that Americans might 
subsequently seize the countr^L While on this visit they were 
shown a peculiar rock at San Jose which was supposed by many to 
contain mineral. Casjillero at once recognized it as quicksilver, an 
indispensable article in gold mining, and thus the way was paved 
for that great wave of mining enthusiasm which came three years 
later. 

While the Mexicans had for some time entertained fears that the 
American colonists would attempt to overthrow Mexican rule in 
California, the evidence is lacking to show that the American set¬ 
tlers entertained the idea of any immediate action in that line. 
Without interference from the outside, in all probability a number of 
years would have elapsed before declaring independence of Mexico. 

But in the fall of 1845 Fremont arrived from the East on his 
second trip with sixty well armed followers. He bore a commission 
from the United States, and his father-in-law, Thomas Benton, was 
in a position to advise him confidentially regarding the policy of 
the United States in dealing with Mexico. At the time Fremont 
left the East war with Mexico seemed inevitable, but had not been 
declared. Starting upon such a mission into a land likely at any 
time to become antagonistic to his country, it requires no great 
imagination to presume that he was confidentially given great lati¬ 
tude in dealing with affairs as he might find them. Yet Fremont 
was a dangerous man to entrust on such a mission. With all the 
undaunted courage of the man, with all his skill in pioneering, he 
lacked that most essential soldier quality, obedience to superior 
authority. He could fight against all manner of obstacles, but he 
could submit to no thing or no man. He could plan in his own 
mind the greatest achievements within the limits of one man power. 
He was never able, however, to have a clear understanding with 
other men, that they might work in harmonj' with him. His whole 
life record is a record of misunderstanding with his associates. 

When he came down the Sierras to Sutter’s Fort, John Bid well 
was in charge. General Sutter being at San Francisco. 

Fremont and Bidwell, what a combination! Eleven years later 
the elder of the two men, though then young himself, was to throw 
all the force of his forceful manhood into the leadership of the 


GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL. 


31 


greatest moral and political issue yet worked out to its logical con¬ 
clusion by the American people. Before that invincible force of 
right which Fremont led the politicians of the old parties were 
beaten back with blows from the keen-edged sword of Justice, fall¬ 
ing thick and fast as ever came the blows of her matchless sword. 
That moral and political force which had been slowly developing in 
this nation to eradicate the stain of slavery broke forth with uncon¬ 
trollable power. The day had come, as come it must in all moral 
conflicts, where the cause of justice became the people’s cause, and 
the great tide came near sweeping Fremont into the Presidency, as 
four years later it swept Lincoln to that post of great honor. 

The cause for which Fremont stood in 1856 became an extinct 
cause when the last phase of the slavery question was permanently 
settled. The political party called into existence by the slave issue 
had accomplished its mission when the issue of slavery was settled. 

The other of the two men who stood face to face fortj^-seven 
years ago, on foreign territory, who co-operated in bringing that 
foreign land under the jurisdiction of the Stars and Stripes, is today 
before the people in a parallel position. Like Fremont, he stands 
the worthj" leader of an issue based on all the elements of justice, 
and this later issue, like its predecessor when Fremont was made its 
leader, has slowly grown in power to that point when the hour is 
striking for a grand uprising of the people, and th,e people, hearing 
the signal, are coming forth to answer to it with their ballots. 

This is one of the marvelous coincidences of historjq and the 
historian, a few years hence, when he tells the storj" of the banish¬ 
ment of the barbarous saloon from civilized America, and expounds 
the philosophy of historjq as relating to parties, will draw the 
lesson from this wonderful parallel that no party can long survive 
the settlement of the principles which called it into being. He will 
tell you that parties are like pocket-knives. They are made for a 
useful purpose. But when they become old and rust\^ and broken 
and can no longer do their work they are thrown aside and a new 
one is procured. If you are a member of a worn-out and rusty 
party you are throwing your vote away, no matter how many men 
you help elect. 

The first notice of Fremont’s return to California was when he 
and Kit Carson appeared at the fort. A portion of his party had 
branched off to the south. He was in a hurrj" to join them and 
asked Bidwell for sixteen mules, six pack saddles, some flour and 
other provisions and the use of a blacksmith shop to shoe the 
mules. Bidwell stated that there were no mules to be had, but he 
could have horses, provisions and pack saddles. He could have the 




32 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKKTCH OF 


use of a blacksmith shop, but there was no coal. Fremont thou^^ht 
this a lack of hospitality and left the fort in an angry mood, 
remarking as he left to Kit Carson that Bidwell was unwilling to 
accommodate him. This remark was reported to Bidw^ell, who 
went immediateh^ to see Fremont and related what he had heard, 
and the difficulties were patched up. With consent of the Mexicans, 
Fremont camped for the wdnter in the San Joaquin Valley, and in 
the spring was given permission to extend his explorations to the 
Colorado River. Now, this river forms the eastern boundary of 
California for a distance, but does not enter the State. Governor 
Castro showed a disposition to prevent Fremont's force visiting the 
more populous region along the coast, though encouraging the 
exploration of the interior. But instead of going south or south¬ 
east toward the Colorado, Fremont moved to the west and south¬ 
west, to the country about Montere 3 q the Mexican capital. When 
near the Salinas Valley, near the coast, Castro sent him an official 
order to leave. Instead of leaving, however, Fremont took pos¬ 
session of Gavilan peak and fortified it. Castro collected a force 
about the moiintain and Fremont abandoned his position on March 
9th and fled up the San Joaquin and Sacramento Valle^^s, leaving 
Sutter’s Fort for Oregon about March 24, 1846. Four weeks later 
Lieutenant A. H. Gillespie, of the United States marines, reached 
the fort in search of Fremont, chased him into Oregon and delivered 
orders. Fremont immediateh' returned to California. B\’' no possi¬ 
bility^ could Fremont have known that war had been declared 
between the United States and Mexico, even from the order delivered 
him, but he immediately^ seized 150 horses belonging to the Mexican 
Government. Word was passed around that there was deep signifi¬ 
cance attached to Fremont’s presence, but no one could fathom the 
mystery. Nevertheless, men began to gather from all (juarters and 
place themselves at Fremont’s disposal. 

vSutter was in spirit an American, but did not disguise his sur¬ 
prise when Fremont seized the honses. Like the Americans them¬ 
selves, he rejoiced in the advent of the day when Calitornia was to 
be turned over to the Union. The onh’^ reasonable construction to 
be placed on Fremont’s acts was that he was acting with the auth¬ 
ority^ of his Government, but this he would neither affirm nor deny. 

Fremont sent twenty-five men to Sonoma, where they captured 
three prominent Mexicans, General Vallejo, Jacob P. Leese and 
Victor Prudon, who were imprisoned in Sutter’s parlor, Bidwell 
acting as guard. 

It was at this time that William L. Todd, a nephew of Mrs. 
Abraham Lincoln, painted on a piece of brown cotton what pur- 


GENERAI. JOHN BIDWELE. 


33 


ported to be a grizzly bear, but which the Mexieaus mistook for a 
pig. This was posted on a pole at Sonoma, where it chanced to be 
seen by a naval officer and became noted as the bear flag. Yet there 
was no significance attached to it at that time. Fremont did not 
see it or hear of it at the time. All that was needed was an idle 
flag pole to suggest a flag and an idle man to carry out the idea. 
The pole and the man met. 

‘A small force of Californians under Joaquin dc le Torre and a 
small force of Americans under Henry L. Ford, had a skirmish 
near the Petaluma ranch and the Californians were repulsed. 

Finally news of the trouble reached San Francisco, and Lieuten¬ 
ant Washington A. Bartlett, of the Navy, was sent to Sutter’s Fort 
to learn the cause. Evidenth^ P'reniont was not prepared to assume 
the responsibility of the warfare and through Lieutenant Gillespie 
advised them to organize, and a public meeting was called for the 
purpose. John Bidwell, P. B. Reading and W. B. Ide were ap¬ 
pointed by Gillespie to draft a plan. Each member of the commit¬ 
tee drew up a document and they were submitted to Gillespie for 
selection. He selected that written by Bidwell. It is one of the 
shortest and yet one of the most important of public documents, 
and reads as follows; 

“The undersigned hereby agree to organize for the purpose ot 
gaining and maintaining the independence of California.” 

General Bidwell writes: [Century Magazine, February, 1891] 
“It was in every one’s mouth (and I think must have come from 
Fremont) that the war was begun in defen.se of American settlers! 
This was siraph^ a pretense to justify the premature beginning of 
the war, which henceforth was to be earried on in the name of the 
United States.” 

Under Bidwell’s document three companies were formed, with 
Henry L. Ford, Granville P. Swift and Samuel J. Hensley as cap¬ 
tains. Bidwell was commissioned as lieutenant. 

Under P'remont they marched to Alonterey, where they were 
surprised to see the Stars and Stripes floating, they having been 
unfurled b}" Commodore Sloat before their arrival. Of course, since 
the United States Government had now taken up the cause of the 
Americans, all enlisted under the federal Government. Commodore 
Sloat was immediately afterward succeeded in command by Com¬ 
modore Stockton, who retained the commissioned officers of the 
three companies in their places. Fremont was made Lieutenant 
Colonel in command. 




34 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


We give General Bidwell’s account of the Mexican w^ar in 
California: 

“The first conquest of California, in 1846, b 3 ^ the Americans, 
with the exception of the skirmish at Petaluma and another 
toward Montere}^ was achieved without a battle. We simply 
marched all over California from Sonoma to San Diego, and raised 
the American flag without opposition or protest. We tried to find 
an enemy, but could not. So Kit Carson and Ned Beale were sent 
East, bearing dispatches from Commodore Stockton, announcing 
the entire conquest of California by the United States. Fremont 
was made Governor b 3 " Stockton at Los Angeles, but could not 
enter on the full discharge of the duties of his office till he had 
visited the upper part of California and returned. He sent me to 
take charge of the Mission of San Luis Rey, with a commission as 
magistrate over the larger portion of the country between Los 
Angeles and San Diego. Stockton and all his forces retired on 
board his vessels. Fremont went north, leaving part of his men at 
Los Angeles under Gillespie, part at Santa Barbara, under Lieuten¬ 
ant Talbot, and some at other points. Pio Pico and Jose Castro, 
respectively the last Mexican Governor and Commander-in-Chief, 
remained concealed awhile and then withdrew into Mexico. 

“Suddenl 3 q in about a month, Fremont being in the north and 
his troops scattered, the whole country south of Monterey was 
in a state of revolt. Then for the first time there was something 
like war. As there were rumors of Mexican troops coming from 
Sonora, Merritt was sent b 3 " Gillespie to reconnoiter toward the 
Colorado River. Gillespie was surrounded at Los Angeles and 
made to capitulate. I fled from San Louis Rey to San Diego. Mer¬ 
ritt and his party, hearing of the outbreak, also escaped to San 
Diego. Meanwhile Fremont enlisted a considerable force (about 
four hundred), principally from the large Hastings immigration 
at Sacramento, and marched south. Commodore Stockton had 
landed and marched to retake Los Angeles and failed. All the men- 
of-war, and all the scattered forces, except Fremont’s new force, 
were then concentrated at San Diego, where Commodore Stockton 
collected and reorganized the forces, composed of sailors, marines, 
men of Fremont’s battalion under Gillespie and Merritt, volunteers 
at San Diego, including some native Californians and that portion 
of the regLilar troops under General S. W. Kearne 3 ^ fl^at had 
escaped from the field of San Pascual—in all between 700 and 800 
men. Of these forces I was commissioned and served as quarter¬ 
master. This work of preparation took several months. Finally 
on the 29th of December, 1846, the army set out to retake Los 


35 


GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL. 

Angeles. It fought the battles of Los Angeles and the Mesa, which 
ended the insurrection. The enemy fled, met Fremont at San Fer¬ 
nando, and surrendered to him the next day. The terms of sur¬ 
render were so lenient that the native Californians from that time 
forth became the fast friends of Fremont. 

“Unfortunate differences regarding rank had arisen between 
Stockton and Kearney. Fremont was afterward arrested in Cali¬ 
fornia by Kearney for refusing to obey orders, and was taken 
to Washington and court-martialed. Stockton, however, was to 
blame. He would not submit to General Kearney, his superior in 
command on land, and that led Fremont to refuse to obey Kearney, 
his superior officer. Fremont’s disobedience was no doubt owing 
to the advice of Stockton, who had appointed him Governor of 
California. 

“The war being over, nearly all the volunteers were discharged 
from the service in February and March, 1847, at Los Angeles and 
San Diego. Most of us made our way up the coast by land to our 
homes.” 

Hastings, the lawyer who had been East to induce immigration, 
had returned, and he and Bidwell had in January, 1846, laid out 
the town of Sutterville, near Sutter’s Fort, the latter place never 
having taken on the characteristics of a town. But the war had 
disarranged their plans. Now they began to work on the town 
site plan again, but other events came to attract attention and 
finally in 1849 the city of Sacramento was laid out by other 
parties. 

Among the men in Sutter’s employ was a wheelwright named 
James W. Marshall, whom Sutter entered into an agreement with 
to build a saw mill, each to share in the product. He was an 
eccentric character but an ingenious mechanic, though imprac¬ 
ticable in the extreme. The agreement between Marshall and 
Sutter was drawn up by Bidwell and in accordance with the agree¬ 
ment Marshall selected a site on the American River, it being his 
intention to raft the lumber down. Anyone acquainted with the 
stream will know how preposterous this was, as the river is always 
either a tumbling brook or a raging torrent. The mill was built, 
but no lumber was ever sent from it. The race would clog up with 
sand, and it became necessary to clean it frequenty, and Marshall 
kept close watch of it. It was while watching the race that he 
detected something yellow in the water and picked it up. It proved 
to be gold. 

In the diary of Henry W. Bigler, an employe of Sutter, under 
date of Monday, January 24, 1848, appears this entry: 



36 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


“This day some kind of mettle was found in the tail race that 
looks like goald first discovered by James Martial, the BovSs of the 
mill.” 

The man who wrote these words was the hunter of the })arty, 
and to him is due the honor of being the first to find “goald" 
away from the mill. 

For three or four months there was little or no excitement 
about the fort, for it was not yet known that the precious metal' 
existed in any great quantity. It was generally conceded that the 
gold belonged to Sutter. Finally Bid well went to San Francisco 
to bear the news of the discovery, and he it was who made the first 
gold scales used in California. 

Sam Brannan, a merchant at the fort, tried to keep the dis¬ 
covery a secret, wanting a monopoly in the business of Imying the 
gold dust. But the news could not be su])])rebsed. It spread like 
wild fire, and from every quarter of the globe men flocked to Cali¬ 
fornia to seek their fortunes. 

General Bidwell gives his view of the importance of the dis- 
cover^' in the following words : 

“It is a question whether the United States could have stood 
the shock of the great rebellion of 1861 had the California gold dis¬ 
covery not been made. Bankers and business men of New York in 
1864 did not hesitate to admit that but for the gold of California, 
which monthly poured its five or si.x millions into that financial 
center, the bottom would have dropped out of everything. These 
timely arrivals so .strengthened the nerves of trade and stimulated 
business as to enable the Government to sell its bonds at a time 
when its credit was its life-blood and the main reliance by which 
to feed, clothe and maintain its armies. Once our bonds went down 
to thirty-eight cents on the dollar. California gold averted a total 
collap.se, and enabled a preserved Union to come forth from the 
great conflict with only four billions of debt instead of a hundred 
billions. The hand of Providence, so plainly seen in the discovery 
of gold, is no less manifest in the time chosen for its accomplish¬ 
ment.” 

The fact was not long in making itself manifest that gold was 
scattered over a wide area, and Bidwell left Sutter’s Fort to prospect 
for himself, being successful in finding a rich deposit in the Feather 
I^iver. And here comes in one of the absurdities of the present cam¬ 
paign. His location on the Feather River became known as Bid- 
well’s Bar. A sand bar in a river was one of the choice places for 
early mining, and Bidwell’s Bar, Murderer’s Bar, Rattlesnake Bar 
and others became famous. Now that the General has been nomi- 






GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL. 


37 


nated as the leader of the Prohibitionists an effort is being made to 
advertise the faet that he onee ran a bar, but those who are pub¬ 
lishing the matter do not advertise that the bar consisted of a pile 
of sand and had nothing to do with liquor. 

Here we may be excused for going out of our way to answer a 
few false accusations made against General Bid well along the line 
of the temperance issue. And in doing so we prefer to let advocates 
of another party speak for us, it being presumed that such wit¬ 
nesses will be recognized as defending General Bidwell purely as a 
matter of justice. We quote from the Chico Daily Enterprise (Re¬ 
publican) of July 16, 1892, this paper being published in a town 
built on what was formerly a portion of General Bid well’s ranch, 
and which certainly is in a position to be conversant with the facts: 

“ During the past two weeks we have seen some gross misrepre¬ 
sentations regarding General Bidwell, the Prohibition candidate for 
President, not only as a public man, but even encroaching into his 
private life, that we feel it the duty of a paper printed at his home 
to correct some of the mistakes and absurdities which have been 
published. The misrepresentations originated first in the New York 
Sun, and have been wideh^ copied in the partisan press, the follow¬ 
ing being a few of them: 

“ ‘General Bidwell has acquired wealth variously estimated at 
from $1,000,000 to $4,000,000. For years his residence has been 
in Butte County, where he has one of the largest fruit ranches in 
the State, comprising more than 23,000 acres. His earlj^ connec¬ 
tion with the government of California gave him knowledge of land 
and titles, and in some wav or other he selected the choicest soil 
in the State for his farm. Of course General Bidwell planted grapes. 
Moreover, they were wine grapes. Five hundred broad acres there 
were, nearly all in wine and brandy grapes. 

“ ‘ When his output became large he set up a winerj- and a still 
house for making brandjq with powerful engines and costly ma- 
chinerv. For twenty years his name stood next to the head in the 
list of California’s wine and brandy producers. Some six or seven 
years ago he found a second wife. Her ideas were strongly against 
the wicked liquor traffic, and not long after his second marriage the 
wine grower became a Prohibitionist. He publicly announced he 
would forthwith go out of the wine and brandy business. All the 
vines that were distinctly for the bearing of wine grapes he rooted 
out of the soil. 

“ ‘General Bidwell still raises grapes, but, he claims, not for 
making wine. In a recent letter he stated that the product of his 
150 acre vineyard was 1,000,000 pounds. These are classified as 



38 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


table grapes. Bidwell sells his grapes, and for what becomes of 
them he is not responsible. There is not a market for 500 tons of 
table grapes a year from the Rancho Chico, and they do not make 
raisins in Butte county. It is figured, moreover, that there is still 
in existence much brandy and good red wine from the Rancho 
Chico. 

“ ‘But, apart from all this, the Prohibition nominee is very 
much of a man. Tall, erect, in spite of three score and ten years, 
with keen, deep-set eyes; a broad, high forehead ; clear-cut features, 
and the full, flowing beard of a pioneer. General Bidwell is a candi¬ 
date who is good to look at.’ 

“General Bidwell was born in Chautauqua count 3 ’', N. Y., and is 
now seventy-three years of age. He never had but one wife, whom 
he married in Washington in 1868. It is true that he has a large 
ranch of 23,000 acres, but the largest area General Bidwell ever 
had in wine grapes was between eight and ten acres. These were 
principally the old Mission variety, together with about 1,000 
Catawba vines. These were all the wine grapes General Bidwell 
ever had. 

“He began wine-making in 1864 or ’65. The grape vines were 
dug up in 1867 and he has never planted a wine grape since. He 
never made a drop of brandy in his life, and never had a distillery of 
any kind, large or small. 

“The largest quantity of good wine he ever had on hand was 
about 1,000 gallons. This was in 1867, at the time he abandoned 
wine-making. This wine he presented, through the advice of Rev. 
Mr. White, to a San Francisco hospital for medicinal purposes, 
instead of throwing it away. The poorer remnant of his wine he 
made into vinegar. 

“His determination to quit the wine-making business was 
brought about b\" the following circumstance: 

“Shortly after beginning the manufacture of wine General 
Bidwell absented himself from home on Congressional duties for 
nearly two years. Returning in 1867 he found his wine-maker had 
a good many visitors at the winery and that they sometimes went 
away with unsteady" gait. His wine-maker also informed him that 
he must have brandy to fortify his wines in order to make them 
keep. Thereupon General Bidwell immediately determined to wash 
his hands of the whole business, and, as above stated, abolished 
his winery, dug up his wine grapes and has never had anything 
to do with the business since. This was one 3 ^ear before he was 
married. 



GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL. 


39 


“ He now has in table and raisin grapes about 150 acres; about 
seventy-five per cent, of these are raisin grapes. 

“The product last year of these vines was 521,447 lbs. of 
grapes. Of these 385,786 lbs. were used in making raisins, 86,300 
lbs. were sold as table grapes, most of them being shipped to 
Chicago and other eastern markets. The remainder of the crop 
were refuse grapes and were converted into vinegar.” 

We quote now from the Chico Dailv Chronicle-Record, also a 
paper of high standing in the State, though not agreeing with 
General Bid well in politics. It says: 

“ The following article is taken from the Revere, Massachusetts, 
Journal, but ha« appeared in several other papers in the East: 

“ ‘General Bidwell, the Prohibition candidate for President, 
appears to have something of a record in the wine-making line. He 
was formerly the leading wine and brandy producer in this country, 
and he is understood to have amassed a handsome fortune in the 
business. Seven years ago he had the largest brandy still in Cali¬ 
fornia and over 500 acres in wine grapes. The delegates to the 
recent Editorial Convention were received at Chico, California, by 
General Bidwell as presiding officer of the meeting in their honor, 
and while they were not given an opportunity to inspect his vine¬ 
yards, they were quietly given to understand that he was largely 
interested in the business.’ 

“We would be pleased to know who ‘quietly informed’ the dele¬ 
gates to the National Editorial Association that General Bidwell 
was largely interested in the wine business. Such an assertion is 
preposterous in the extreme, and all who reside in this part of 
California know that such a statement is a base libel, without the 
shadow of foundation. The facts in the case are as follows: The 
largest area which General Bidwell ever had in wine grapes was 
between eight and ten acres, and these were principally the old 
Mission variety, but about 1000 Catawba vines were included. 
Now these were all the wine grapes that General Bidwell ever had, 
on the Rancho Chico, or any place^Ise. 

“General Bidwell began the making of wine in 1864 or ’65, and < 
the business was continued during two years. The wine grapes on 
Rancho Chico were dug up in 1867, and there has never been a wine 
grape planted nor a drop of wine made on General Bidwell’s pos¬ 
sessions since that date. There never was, at any time, a drop of 
brandy made by General Bidwell or his employes, and he has never 
owned a distillery, large or small, of any description. * * * 

“A telegram from San Francisco to the New York Sun says 
that General Bidwell never made a raisin from his Rancho Chico 




40 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


vineyards. The sender of this dispatch has gone out of his way to 
.subvert the facts. The output of the Rancho Chico vineyards last 
year alone was 104,000 pounds of raisins of a good quality. Those 
who make these false statements willfully misrepresent the facts in 
relation to the products of Rancho Chico.” 

The Chicago News-Record also investigated the slanderous 
attacks on General Bidwell, and on August 1st contained the fol¬ 
lowing editorial. 

“General Bidwell has the distinction of being the first candidate 
of those aspiring to the presidency this year to be singled out by 
the campaign prevaricator for the exercise of his peculiar talents. 

“Apparently without fear of detaching the saloon vote from 
the two old parties and stampeding it to General Bidwell, friends of 
other candidates have circulated the report that the leader of the 
Prohibitionists ‘had a big vineyard in Butte county.’ But this is 
only part of the indictment. ‘He raised grapes there,’ continues 
one veracious historian, ‘and they were wine grapes. He had a 
winery and a stillhouse, and for twenty 3 'ears the individual who 
now heads the Prohibition ticket was next to the largest wine and 
brandy producer in California.’ 

“General Bidwell is then introduced to the public as a ‘reformed 
distiller’ whose reformation came through his wife’s influence after 
he had accumulated millions of dollars at the business which he is 
now fighting. 

“If this were true it would be interesting. The facts, however, 
collide somewhat forcibly with the story. Here they are: General 
Bidwell planted a vine^^ard of eight or ten acres in 1860. In 1864 
he began the manufacture of wines and then for two years he was 
absent in Congress. On his return to California he found 1000 gal¬ 
lons of wine manufactured and on hand. He learned also that this 
wine was a very effective intoxicant. Thereupon, being a temperate 
man, he gave it all to a San Francisco hospital for medicinal use, 
without ever having sold a gallon of it, dug up his vines and burned 
them and went out of the business. 

“That is the kind of ‘reformed distiller’ General Bidwell is. 
The story that his wife’s influence led him to abandon wine-making 
is pretty. The trouble with this story is that General Bidwell 
burned his vineyard two years before he was married. 

“To those who believe in prohibition this record of their candi¬ 
date will prove satisfactory. To those who do not accept this 
doctrine the candidate’s course will appear at least consistent. The 
Prohibition party, now that the facts are known, will not run the 


GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL. 


41 


risk of attracting the saloon vote. So it is much better for all con¬ 
cerned that the truth of the vineyard story should be known.” 

With all his heroic efforts to gain a footing in the country, it 
was not until 1849 that John Bid well began to acquire wealth, he 
then being thirty years of age. His mine yielded richly, and with 
his experience of eight years in California he fully realized the value 
of land, and in this early day he acquired title to the Rancho Chico, 
a princely possession which he has been continuously reducing in 
area, and which yet contains about twenty-three thousand aeres. 
As may be readily seen by those who have followed this story, land 
in those days was to be had for the asking. There was no price on 
land, for the reason that any one eould take his ehoice from the 
millions of idle acres unclaimed by any man. We have read in the 
life of Warren Hastings of there being placed at his disposal the 
gold accumulated for ages in the temples of India. No less oppor¬ 
tunity was offered to the early settlers in California, save that time 
was required to realize on the land acquired. The majority of men 
were not content to do this in that era of wild exeitement. Nor 
is it possible that the most visionarj^ prophet of the day ever 
dreamed that within the lifetime of one man California would 
advance with such strides in point of population and production. 
Then it was known that wheat could be grown successfully. It 
was was not eonceived possible that before fifty years the produc¬ 
tive enterprises would exceed in number those of any Eastern state. 
It is not only the improbable, but what might very readilj’- have 
been termed the impossible, that has happened. 

Probably when John Bidwell secured his thousands of acres his 
fancy prompted him to look forward to that day when he would be 
surrounded with rich grain fields and increasing herds and he would 
take his place on a footing of equality with the easy-going Mexican 
ranchers whose herds had roamed the valleys for a hundred years. 
Unless he were more etherial, more visionary, in the daj^s of his 
younger manhood than he is today, his visions never went beyond 
that point. 

But there is a striking contrast between the methods adopted 
by Bidwell and those of many other Americans who were then 
acquiring land. Scattered all over California were small settle¬ 
ments of “Mission” Indians, and it has been the almost universal 
custom, as the Americans settled the country to drive the Indians 
back, until today they occupy, principally, undesirable locations. 
But Bidwell was the William Penn of California. The Indians he 
found upon the Rancho Chico, or their descendants, are there today, 
and every Sunday the General’s most estimable wife meets them in 



42 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


the Sabbath school and expounds to them the Gospel of the Lord. 
For their education and Christianization, a church and school 
house have been provided and maintained by the General. But not 
onlj^ have these Indians been instructed in these lines. General 
Bidw^ell has been to them a father, a friend, a defender, and in a 
paternal way has led them upward in the art of making an honest 
living successfully. 

Although California passed into the hands of the United States 
in 1847, it was not until 1849 that a convention was called to 
frame a constitution for the State. Although not versed in legal 
lore, and though but thirty' years of age, the neighbors of John 
Bid well chose him • to represent them in the convention, and the 
same year he was chosen a member of the upper house of the first 
Legislature of the new State of California. From that time on 
General Bidwell devoted his attention principally to his ranch, 
selling ofi' portions of it from time to time, as fast as there was any 
demand for it, and especialh' has he made it easy for poor people to 
secure land from him, as is shown by the fact that a number of 
working women, with families to support, have bought of him and 
have been able to pay for their property. In the improvement of 
his land the General has been progressive in the extreme, and has 
been anxious for 3 ^ears to reduce his holdings that he might be able 
to carr 3 ^ out plans for further improvements. 

As tending to show the public spirit of the General, we can 
point to his purchase of man 3 ^ acres a few years ago, at $160 an 
acre, that he might grant to a planing mill enterprise, in which he 
had no personal interest, a right of wa 3 ^ into Chico with a flume. 
Later on, he made donations from this land he had bought to the 
State for a forestrv station and for a normal school, and these are 
but a few of the many liberal donations for public purposes. 

It was from this work of developing his ranch that he was 
called in 1860 to represent California in the Charleston Convention. 
It is needless to go into the details of the work of that convention 
which represented a faction of the Democratic part 3 '. Of the entire 
California delegation Bidwell alone stood lo 3 "al to the Union, and 
when it became apparent that his part 3 ' championed secession, he 
went over to the Republican part 3 ’ and remained with it until the 
war issues were permanenth" settled. In 1863 he accepted from 
Governor Stanford an appointment to the command of the Fifth 
Brigade California Militia, a position he held to the close of the 
war, and in 1864 he was a delegate to the National Republican 
Convention that renominated President Lincoln, and in the same 
3 'ear he was elected to Congress b 3 ^ the Republicans of his district, 


GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL. 


43 


where he was made chairman of the Committee on Agriculture. 
During all the war period he stood as a most prominent defender of 
his country, in a State where public sentiment was nearly evenly 
divided between the North and South; and it is not strange that 
public sentiment was divided in a State the northern limit of which 
is in the latitude of New England, and whose southern limit is on 
a line with Florida Keys. Had it not been for such determined 
patriots as Starr King, who believed patriotism next to godliness, 
and John Bid well, whose love of native land was as broad as the 
nation he had traversed, and whose opposition to slavery was 
based on a belief in the brotherhood of man, California would have 
been a burden on the Union at a time when it could but poorly bear 
added burdens. As it was, the patriots at home were able to keep 
in comparative subjection the spirit of rebellion which often mani¬ 
fested itself, and in choosing John Bid well as the commander of a 
brigade of militia, at such a time, Governor Stanford conferred 
upon him no empty title. 

We have not at hand the detailed record of General Bidwell in 
Congress, nor would there be occasion to follow his acts carefully 
during all the important events of that remarkable Congress. We 
can but speak generally of his record upon the issues which were of 
prime importance in that epoch. 

General Bidwell was never an orator. It is improbable that he 
ever distinguished himself by a flowery speech in Congress. He 
was neither of that class who are supposed to be wise because of 
their fluency of speech, nor of that class who are supposed to be 
thoughtful because they never speak. He is one of the most delib¬ 
erate speakers the writer has ever met, both in private conversation 
and in public. With the instincts of a judge, he weighs his every 
word as though it were a nugget of gold, and when sentence is pro¬ 
nounced it is always to confer the utmost happiness upon the cul¬ 
prit at the bar. 

There has been an attack made upon General Bidwell’s record 
in Congress which deserves a few words at this time. We are told 
that he supported a measure to aid the “wine and brandy inter¬ 
ests” of the State by lowering the tax upon them. We have no 
authority upon which to contradict the report. In that era the 
manufacture of wine in California was a new “industry.” It was 
alleged that the light wines of California were a temperance-pro¬ 
moting beverage, and it would seem that for a few years General 
Bidwell believed in this fallacy himself. At that time (1866) he had 
some eight or ten acres of wine grapes on his own ranch. When he 







44 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


returned from Congress, however, and found from his own observa¬ 
tion that California wine is conducive to intemperance instead of 
temperance, and proceeded to destroy his vineyard, it would seem 
that that act wiped out his record in Congress completely. And 
insomuch as the Prohibitionists are content to accept his antagon¬ 
ism to the “ wine industr\" ” for twent 3 '-five 3 'ears as all sufficient, it 
would seem to place him be\’ond the criticism of newspapers which 
do not themselves hesitate at the present time to uphold the grog 
shop. 

But this attack upon General Bidwell is particularlv malicious, 
coming as it did in the form of an anon\'mous circular distributed 
at the National Convention of 1892 for the sole purpose of prevent¬ 
ing his nomination. There was also some reason to believe that it 
came from members of his own part\' in his own State. Unfor¬ 
tunately, there are three or four mischief makers in the Prohibition 
partv in California. The\' have a record running far back. The^' 
came near wrecking the Independent Order of Good Templars, thej^ 
sowed dissension in the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and 
finally carried their quarrel into the Prohibition part\^; the\^ were 
expelled from part^^ leadership in their own county and were driven 
in disgrace from prominence in the State organization; it was the 
misfortune of General Bidwell to be called b^' the partv to State 
leadership and thus incur their opposition. 

In 1868 General Bidwell was married to a daughter of Hon. 
Joseph C. G. KennedjL The latter was one of the most prominent 
citizens of the National Capital and was wideh" known for his intel¬ 
ligence and benevolent character. Mrs. Bidwell had been a leader 
in Washington society, and the wedding was attended b 3 ' President 
Johnson, Generals Grant and Sherman, and man 3 ' of the best known 
people at the capital. The 3 ' had first met when General Bidwell 
was a member of the Thirt 3 ^-ninth Congress. 

Mrs. Bidwell is one of the noble women of the age. Stepping 
out from the fashionable societ 3 ' of Washington she did not deem 
€ven the ignorant Indians on Rancho Chico beneath her notice. 
She entered with enthusiasm into all the General’s plans for educat¬ 
ing ail'd Christianizing them. She even took upon herself the task 
of meeting them in gatherings each da 3 ' for a series of 3 'ears, that 
she might teach them in both worldl 3 ' and spiritual affairs, and on 
the Sabbath it has been her custom to gather the Indians in a 
chapel built for the purpose and conduct religious services. 

She has also been an active worker in the Woman’s Christian 
Temperance Union, and she and General Bidwell, who are both 


GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL. 


45 


members of the Presbyterian Church, have made most liberal 
donations for evangelical work. 

Frances Gurlej’ Elderkin, corresponding secretary of the Los 
Angeles Presbyterial Society, makes the following a part of her 
annual report for March, 1892: 

'“My friends, we have today in California one Missionary 
Auxiliary which does not appear upon any Presbyterial Society’s 
rolls—I refer to one organized last May among the Indians at 
Rancho Chico, the well-known home of General John Bidwell, in 
Biitte County, north of Sacramento. 

“Mrs. Bidwell’s work among the Indians began shortly after 
her marriage in 1868. At that time the Indians in that locality 
spoke but little English—indeed the women and children, Mrs. 
Bidwell tells us, could only respond to her words ‘ with a nod or a 
smile’—but through her unwearying efforts, earnest and*unceasing 
prayers, and enduring patience and faithfulness, they have become 
an intelligent, law-abiding company of Christians—whose Sunday 
morning service in the Chapel, long since lovingly provided for them 
and their children, would dispel forever any doubt as to the reality 
of the religion of Jesus Christ. 

“They have not only been taught to read and write, but in 
everj' undertaking of their lives, one precious theme has been kept 
before them: ‘ The dear Redeemer and His amazing love! ’ Listen¬ 

ing today to their hymns of praise as with one voice they sing, 
‘Jesus, lover of my soul’, and ‘I love to think of Jesus, as He sat 
beside the sea’, our hearts are filled with tenderness, and our eyes 
with tears of thanksgiving for all the ways in which God has led 
this dear disciple in her work for the honor and glory of the Master 
among these people. 

“During a visit to Rancho Chico, lavSt May, I was so impressed 
with all I saw, not only at the Chapel services, but in frequent 
visits to the Indian homes, and in ‘talks’ with them, that I said in 
mv heart, ‘ Why not organize a Missionary Society among these 
Indians?’ We talked the matter over and Mrs. Bidwell being 
heartily desirous in regard to the project, it was finallj^ agreed that 
on the following Sunday morning I should present the matter to 
the Indians themselves for their consideration. 

“A drive through beautiful orchards brought us on Sunday to 
the Chapel. How I wish I could carry everv earnest Presbyterian 
woman in America to a Sunday morning service at Rancho Chico. 
Indeed one could never afterward question the presence or the 
power of the Holy Spirit. After a few moments of greeting with 




46 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


each famil 3 ^, Mrs. Bidwell conducted the usual opening exercises, 
touching in their simplicity’, and in that ‘ all the people praised God 
with one voice.’ 

“After the exercises were concluded, she explained to the Indians 
in a few words our desire to help them organize a Missionary 
Society, and all about the meaning of such an organization. Their 
intelligence on the subject was marvelous—proving how carefully 
and conscientiously God’s word had been taught them during all 
the months and years before. Mrs. Bidwell then said to them, in 
substance, ‘ I am going to attend service in town this morning, but 
I shall pray’ that you may’ understand y’our whole duty’ in this 
matter,’and she left me with them. * * * * * * 

“That week passed and another, without any’ definite outcome 
in the matter, but the second Sunday morning came and with it a 
large attendance at the Chapel. After the singing of several hy’mns, 
the reading of the scriptures, and a heartfelt prayer in which at the 
close all the Indians joined, Mrs. Bidwell asked them their decision 
about forming a Missionary’ Society. There was a silence for a few 
moments, then one of the most intelligent men among them arose 
and said: ‘ We all say’ we will have Missionary Society’, for we 

want to act from principle. W'hen we are dead we do not want our 
children to say’ we did nothing for other Indians. When Mrs. 
Bidwell came to live at Rancho Chico y’ears ago, she brought her 
religion with her. She did not say, ‘ I have got something good— 
the Bible in my’ heart—I not give any to these Indians’, but she tell 
us all about it, and that Bible gave us and our children this church 
—that Bible gave us this dress, instead of our Indian dress—that 
Bible gave us our houses and our gardens, and gave our children 
schools—that Bible teach us how to live good lives, and tell us 
about the Holy Spirit who fills our hearts with good thoughts and 
love for Jesus, and now we will give other Indians—the Colusa 
Indians—some of our good things too.’ And so the first Mission¬ 
ary Society among California Indians was started in May’, 1891.’’ 

The work of Mrs. Bidwell is so closely allied with the work of 
our leader that few will ever know the part she is bearing. During 
the present campaign, when there are so many demands on the time 
of the General, Mrs. Bidwell is more than an amanuensis to him. 
She has charge of the correspondence, and so intimately’ acquainted 
is she with his views on all manner of subjects that the probability 
of any’ given letter being referred to the General for an answer is 
very remote. The letters are written by' Mrs. Bidwell, in the 
majority’ of cases, but they’ represent the General’s views none the 


GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL. 


47 


less. In few cases are man and wife so well acquainted with one 
another as are General and Mrs. Bid well. 

Bidwell declined a renomination for Congress in 1867. He 
never sought office. His personal inclination was to devote his 
time to his magnificent property. But he never hesitated to speak 
for principles. When, in speaking to .the California Prohibition 
Convention this year (1892), after declining to allow the conven¬ 
tion to endorse him for the Presidency, he spoke words of fatherly 
advice, called forth by the love for him there manifest. He said, 
referring to the forthcoming platform: 

“Do not entangle yourselves with details; but give plainly the 
principles involved in the campaign.” One might think that had 
been the motto of his life. He had stood for patriotic principles at 
the Charleston Convention, and when he saw his party leaving 
those principles, he entered the party which stood as their cham¬ 
pion. He remained in that party so long as the principles involved 
were at issue. When those principles were established, as a part of 
the law of the land, he saw that the machinery which had worked 
out the principles had exhausted its mission. If a simile be allowed: 
He knew the log had been sawed in two. He did not believe in 
agitating the saw where it could accomplish nothing. He went to 
a new log and continued his work. 

The evils which were growing out of the Pacific railroad 
monopolies were beginning to attract attention shortly after the 
completion of the roads. The companies, which had been greatly 
aided by the Government, had no sooner got all they had asked 
than they began to repudiate their obligations to their benefactors. 
Not only did they defy the Government, but they corrupted all the 
branches of the State Government and the railroad President 
practically became the ruler of the people. In view of the vast 
power of the railroad, the politicians of both parties were forced 
into submission. To rise in rebellion meant the abandonment of all 
personal ambition. 

No politician dared to take the lead. But there was one man 
who had no personal ambition to gratify. Regardless of personal 
consequences, John Bidwell threw his whole force against, not the 
railroads, but their corrupting, domineering methods. People 
flocked to his leadership and in 1875 they named him as their 
candidate for Governor. It was a fight of manhood against gold, 
and gold won. But Bidwell polled a vote of over 30,000. The 
railroads won, but they had learned to fear the people, and never 




48 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


since have they been quite so audacious in their antagonism to 
popular government. 

General Bidwell had always had strong temperance convietions, 
and in 1876 he cast his first Prohibition vote, for Green Clay Smith, 
nominee for the Presidency. 

In 1882 he gave most hearty support to that grand pioneer of 
Prohibition, Dr. R. H. McDonald, who had been nominated for the 
Governorship, and in 1884 he supi^orted John P. St. John for the 
Presidene^L 

One of the events in the life of General Bidwell whieh will long 
be remembered was his elevation to the chairmanship of the con¬ 
vention of 1890. It was no ordinary event. It was the most 
tempestuous scene probabU" ever witnessed in an\^ political conven¬ 
tion in the State of California. The Chairman of the State Central 
Committee had held his office for a series of j^ears in opposition to 
the vast majority of the members of the party, and two years 
before had been forced upon the convention, and the convention had 
only submitted to preserve peaee. In 1890 the convention was 
resolved to no longer submit. The State Executive Committee, 
composed of friends of the chairman, reported plans for the conven¬ 
tion, and arrogated to themselves the privilege of naming the 
chairman. They selected the old chairman of the Central Com¬ 
mittee. This man, who was then presiding, ruled that the conven¬ 
tion could not go back of the report of the committee, but must 
allow himself to preside. Delegates appealed from the decision to 
the convention, and the chair refused to entertain the appeal. It 
was the most absurd and autocratic decision ever rendered by the 
chairman of any deliberative assembhq and the convention went 
wild with anger. It was two or three men against a multitude, 
but the two or three seemed to be in charge and were determined to 
hold control if they ground parliamentary law to powder. For a 
half an hour the storm raged. At last some man called out the 
magic word, “Bidwell.” He was near bA' and a delegation rushed 
after him. They forced him to the chair and crowded the chairman 
back. He took the chair, and said, “Gentlemen, we will have no 
gag law here.” Cheer after cheer went up for the grand new leader 
of the party, and there was no gag law, but everjThing went off 
peacefull}^ and harmonioUvSly. Later in the convention his name 
was brought forward for the Governorship, and despite his remon¬ 
strance he was nominated and made an excellent campaign. 

When the California State Convention met in Fresno this year 
Bidwell was there again, but for a short time. The next day the 


GENERAL JOHN BIDWELL. 


49 


National Editiorial Association was to join the people of Chico in 
a picnic in the grove about his house. He ha(^come to the State 
Convention with a mission. It was understood that he would be 
endorsed for the Presidenc^^ by the convention. He had come to tell 
his many friends that this must not be done. When he stepped 
upon the platform and thanked the delegates for the great consid¬ 
eration the part 3 ^ had always shown him, his voice trembled with 
emotion, that interfered with his speech, and tears rolled from his 
eyes. The love of the people for the grand old man of the Pacific, 
and his love of the principle and the members of the party were so 
great that the thousand people in the hall were spellbound. The 
General could not speak for his emotion, and the people could only 
shed tears in sympathy with his tears. At last he gained his voice. 
He told them how proud he was to be even mentioned by the great¬ 
est of all parties for so exalted a position. But the interests of his 
party and his own health, he said, forbade his acceptance. He paid 
a glowing tribute to the noble man who had led the party in 1884, 
and said St. John was the man the party should nominate. He 
talked to the delegates as a father to his children, and then he took 
the train for his home. 

It was in deference to his wishes that the convention refrained 
from endorsing him, but when it was learned at Cincinnati that St. 
John had secured his consent to accept the nomination, every dele¬ 
gate from California, without instructions, recorded his vote for 
John Bid well. 

The National Convention which chose General Bidwell as its 
standard bearer met in Music Hall, Cincinnati, June 29, 1892. It 
was opened by that matchless leader. Chairman Samuel Dickie, of 
Michigan, and all but two States were represented on the floor. 
From beginning to end the convention was most enthusiastic, and 
the names of three able and most worthy Prohibitionists were be¬ 
fore the convention for consideration. Ex-Governor John P. St. 
John had been urged by many friends to allow his name to be used. 
It is a singular coincidence, and we do not know of its parallel in the 
history of the country, that while the Ex-Governor was creating a 
Bidwell boom, Bidwell was doing his best to secure the nomination 
of St. John, even preventing his own State Convention from men¬ 
tioning his name for the Presidency. 

There are but two more events to be mentioned regarding the 
life of General John Bidwell in this sketch, his nomination and 
letter of acceptance. Each of those subjects will be found herewith, 
under a separate heading. 

The Prohibitionists have no excuse to offer for the nomination 





50 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 


of General Bid well. In naming him for the high office, for the first 
time in American history, a political party has gone beyond the 
Mississippi for a candidate. It is a tribute the party has paid to 
that stalwart race of men who have carved out the institutions of 
the great West, and yet we believe the tribute was deserved. It is 
deserv^ed by the people of the West and by the heroic individual 
named. We believe he is a man of Presidential stature, morally, 
socially and physically; a man whom the party can trustingly ask 
you to measure by any yardstick you are accustomed to measure 
your candidates with. 



DR. JAMES B. CRANFILL 


When in the National Convention it was suggested that the can¬ 
didate for Vice-President be drawn from the South, some one said: 
“If you are going South, g-o South,” and they did. They went to 
the very coast of the great gulf. And they chose a man beloved by 
all the moral people and feared by all the immoral people of the 
great New South. We use that phrase New South with all due 
reverence, for it never occurs to us but with thoughts of that 
matchless hero, Grady, and of that most eminent divine, Dixon, 
and of that Cartwright of the South, Cranfill. Were we asked to 
name three men of the new generation in the New South who have 
stirred the souls and purposes of mankind most in the past score of 
years, we would name them thus: Grady, Dixon, Cranfill. Heroes 
all, and marked heroes, for we of the new generation in the New 
North have no names to print with theirs in parallel columns. 

They did go South, and going South, they found that match¬ 
less hero, the big, whole-hearted, noble Cranfill. Perhaps it was 
because of his stature, or because of the breadth of his mind, or 
because of the all-embracing heart of him, that they couldn’t help 
but find him. Be that as it may, they found him. And right 
royally welcome is he to the high post of honor, say we all. 

But California and Texas! What combination is this? What 
think those old parties that twenty years ago wrapped themselves 
in the robes of sectionalism and lay them down to Rip Van Winkle 
slumber? What! a national party? True enough! a national 
party! A party that dares to invade any State in the whole broad 
land and crown an honored son, regardless of whether his father 
wore the blue or the gray. 

See them now, those old parties robed in the tattered garments 
of sectionalism. Slowly their eyes are opened. They gaze about in 
mute surprise. The stupor passes gradually away. To hide their 
nakedness they draw their rags of dead issues closer about them. 
They rise to their feet, and stagger (it is a good word) toward their 
old haunts. The scenes are shifted. The friends are gone. The 





52 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


people believe the Rip Van Winkles are dead. No one but them¬ 
selves believe that they still live. Their time of action is over, and 
they do die. And out in yonder grave 3 ^ard the kind neighbors lay 
them away. 

“Dust thou art, to dust returneth, was not spoken of the soul.” 
The souls of the old parties abide in the glowing pages of history. 
But in 3 "onder cemetery two gaping graves are waiting. 

Dr. James Britton Cranfill was born in Parker county, Texas, 
September 12th, 1857. His father and mother were natives of 
Kentucky. The\^ married when quite young and moved from Ken¬ 
tucky to Texas in 1849, first settling in the eastern portion of the 
state. True to their pioneer cast of mind, in 1856 they moved to 
Parker county, which was that year organized, and was then on 
the remote frontier. There were very few inhabitants in that sec¬ 
tion at the time, and the country was subject to oft recurring and 
deadly depredations b^' the Comanche Indians. Thirteen years 
after the birth of the subject of this sketch his cousin, Boj^d Cranfill, 
was murdered b^- the Comanche Indians within a few hundred 
yards from where he was born. 

The name Cranfill is said by a tradition in the family to be a 
corruption of the English name Granville. Dr. Cranfill’s ancestors 
on his father’s side removed from England to America some two 
hundred ^’'ears ago, and the branch of the family from which he is 
descended, subsequently settled in the Carolinas, later on following 
the fortunes of Daniel Boone, in Kentuck^L His mother was a 
Gallowa\’ and was of Irish extraction. The family tradition is that 
her ancestors came from Galway, Ireland. Her grandmother on 
her father’s side was a German woman, whose maiden name was 
Hockersmith. Dr. Cranfill’s grandmother on his father’s side was 
an Eaton. As far back as the family histor\^ is traced his ancestors, 
on both sides, were religious and usually Baptists. 

Dr. Cranfill’s father combined the callings of farmer, preacher 
and country ph\"sician. He was of a restless and mercurial tem¬ 
perament, and never remained at one place for an 3 ^ great length of 
time. In common with the earh' settlers, he paid great attention 
to the stock business, and his son received training as a farmer boy 
and a cow boy. His educational advantages were necessarily 
limited. He would attend to the work of the farm and look after 
the stock about nine months of each 3 ^ear and about three months 
would be in school. The schools in Texas at that period of his life 
were very much better than is commonl 3 '' supposed, and povssessing 
a very vivacious and active intellect, he was enabled by pursuing 
his studies during his long vacations, to take his place with the 




DR. JAMES B. CRANFILL. 


53 


classes when he returned to vseliool. It was a eharaeteristie of him 
in sehool to stand at the head of his elasses, and his ambition and 
thirst for knowledge led him to tie his sehool books to his saddle 
and pick opportunities as best he eould to study them while engaged 
in following the beef trails. In this way he read thousands of 
pages, beeoming familiar with most branehes of English literature. 
At the age of seventeen his father allowed him to begin life on 
his own aceount, and that year he worked for his father on a salary, 
taking charge with his brother of the stoek and also superintending 
the farm. At the age of nineteen, his father having moved and 
loeated in a distant county, he sought oeeupation as a teaeher in a 
eountry sehool in Crawford, McLennan eounty. It was here he 
met the ladj^ who was to be his wife, and at the age of twenty he 
was married to Miss Ollie Allen, of Crawford. His marriage ter¬ 
minated his experienee as a sehool teaeher, and soon thereafter he 
began vigorously the proseeution of his medieal studies. Having 
sueeessfully passed his examinations, he began praeticing his pro¬ 
fession at Turnersville, Coyrell eounty. Being a young man and 
without means he eonfronted numerous difficulties. His charaeter- 
istie perseveranee and energy, however, brought him fair sueeess in 
his experienee as a doctor. In 1881 he began the publieation of a 
small paper, ealled the Turnersville Effort. The first issue appeared 
Februarj^ 1st of that year. His strong journalistic inclinations, 
which had been growing for some years, eventuated the next j^ear 
in the establishment of a weekly paper at Gatesville, the eounty 
seat of the eounty. Gatesville at that time had the promise of a 
railroad, and all lines of business received a great impetus. Dr, 
Cranfill moved his family and entire business to that place, and the 
first issue of the Weekh" Advanee appeared in June, 1882. It at 
onee beeame a very popvilar paper and was eagerly sought after. 
In the meantime Dr. Cranfill had engaged in the drug and general 
merchandise business, whieh interest he also moved to Gatesville. 
Having purehased the entire stoek from his friend, Mr. John B, 
Niehols, now of Crawford, on credit, he soon found that he would 
have to make an assignment. This he did in Juh', 1883, equitably 
dividing his effects among his creditors. Not satisfied with this, 
however, he gave his note for balanees due, all of which he subse¬ 
quently paid in full. 

His mother was a very ardent believer in temperanee and prohi¬ 
bition, and being her youngest ehild and spending a great deal of 
time with her, he imbibed her views early in life. Her opposition to 
all forms of the liquor traffie was phenomenal. She had no toler¬ 
ance for drinking, in any form. To her Dr. Cranfill aseribes more 




54 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


than to an}'- person, living or dead, the impulses that h^ve shaped 
his life. After her death he wrote “A Tribute to the/Memory of 
Mother”, that has been published far and wide and placed in many 
scrap books. / 

In 1884 Dr. Cranfill’s paper openly and vigorously espoused the 
cause of prohibition, and his power and influence Were felt not only 
in his own county, but throughout the entire state. Through the 
influence of his paper and his lectures more than a dozen temperance 
lodges were organized in his county, and the saloons which were 
arrogant and boastful when he moved to Gatesville, became un¬ 
popular and poorly patronized. In the meantime he had consider¬ 
able trouble with the mob element in his county. It was customary 
in the early days in Texas for vigilance committees to mete out 
summary punishment to offenders against the law, and this was 
kept up even after the counties were organized and civilization 
inaugurated. About this time a 3 ^oung and innocent lad, by 
the name of Deering, was hanged by a Coryell county mob. Dr. 
Cranfill’s paper denounced it as a fiendish murder, and insisted 
that they be hunted down and suffer the extreme penalty of the 
law. Smarting under his denunciations, the mob sent one of their 
number to him and informed him that if he did not cease his invec¬ 
tives against them they would hang him. To this he replied that 
they could come on—that he would die defending the right. For 
months he daily expected assassination, but he was cast in the 
mould of the intrepid and fearless pioneer, and being a capital 
pistol shot he cooly pursued his policy of strongly advocating law 
and order. He was once waylaid, and threats werCj constantly 
made b}' the lawless element to take his life, but he never winced at 
their threats, and with the co-operation of J. H. Lanhan, Sheriff of 
the county, he remained in the county to see lawlessness give way 
to peace and order. 

In 1884 he connected himself with the Baptist church at Gates¬ 
ville, and for three years was teacher of the principal Bible class in 
the Sunday school. At this time he was a ver}^ ardent Democrat, 
and when the news of Cleveland’s election electrified ’the South, he 
was one of the speakers at the ratification^meeting in his town. He 
was a delegate the same 3 "ear to the Democratic Convention which 
met in Houston, and introduced in that convention a resolution 
against the liquor traffic. It was very promptly laid upon the 
table, and one delegate facetiously moved to lay the originator 
“under the table.” This, however, did not shake Dr. Cranfill’s 
faith in the part}' of his fathers. He early became locally promi¬ 
nent in politics, and was frequent!}' urged to seek offices, which he 


DR. JAMES B. CRANFILL. 


55 


I 

always declined to do. He continued to write and speak about 
saloons, denouncing the liquor traffic as the sum of all crimes, and 
inimical to civilization and good government. 

In 1886, by a shrewd combination of the anti-Prohibitionists 
in his precinct he was defeated for delegate to the State Democratic 
Convention. He, however, attended it, and went before the plat¬ 
form committee, asking for an expression from the convention 
favorable to a submission of a prohibition amendment for the 
State. This the committee declined to recommend, but instead, 
recommended the local option plank that has evoked so much dis¬ 
cussion in Democratic circles in the State. It is a notable fact that 
Hon. D. M. Prendergrast, the present Prohibition candidate for 
Governor of Texas, was a member of the platform committee, be¬ 
fore whom Dr. Cranfill made his plea. Failing to win the platform 
committee to his view he sought to have a resolution introduced in 
the convention itself, but the chairman of the convention would 
recognize none of the men who had promised to introduce the reso¬ 
lution and the matter went by default. The attitude of the party 
in this convention, and the fact that they nominated a gentleman 
for Governor who was notoriously committed against prohibition 
convinced Dr. Cranfill that there was no hope of securing prohibi¬ 
tion through his partjq and he went home resolved on organizing 
the Prohibition party in Texas. To one not familiar with Texas- 
affairs it would be difficult to understand the gravity to a young 
man of such a movement. In that State there is a Democratic ma- 
j'ority of over 150,000. To leave the party meant political ostra¬ 
cism, and the apparent surrender of all hope of political preferment 
for all time to come. Dr. Cranfill was not a disappointed office 
seeker. He had never been an applicant for any position. He stood 
in the attitude of a lover of God and his country, resolved to do 
right. Like Daniel when he went into the lion’s den he dared to 
obey the voice of his conscience and his God; feeling thus, he faced 
the issue and burned the bridges behind him. 

At that time he had a partner in his paper—Mr. John Post— 
now of Troy, Alabama, and on his return home he proposed to buy 
Mr. Post’s interest in the paper, informing him of his change on 
political questions and of his conviction that a change of policy 
would probably destroy the financial value of the paper. Mr. Post, 
although still a Democrat, told him to go ahead and he would 
stand by him. The following week Dr. Cranfill published a call in 
his paper which was copied throughout the State, for the State 
Prohibition Convention to assemble in Dallas on September 7, 
1886. The convention met as called, and nominated a full State 




56 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF 


ticket. Through the influence of the Advance, Dr. Cranfill’s paper, 
and other agencies, the Prohibition vote reached nearl}" 20,000 and 
the party sprang at once into prominence in the State. The Demo¬ 
cratic leaders found that the prohibition issue could no longer be 
ignored, and in Februar 3 ^, 1887, they agreed to submit a prohibi¬ 
tion amendment to a popular vote. The amendment was framed 
b\' its enemies, who did their best to murder it before it was bom, 
and was hampered bj" the deformities visited upon it by an un¬ 
friendly Legislature and Governor, but Prohibitionists were forced 
to accept the issue. The vote was ordered to be taken August 4th. 
In the mean time. Dr. Cranfill desiring a larger field had moved to 
Waco and began the publication of the Waco Advance the first 
week of January, 1887. Its circulation increased rapidly, and when 
the amendment was submitted to the people it was regarded as the 
leading exponent of the prohibition idea in the State. A Prohibi¬ 
tion State Convention was held and was ver\' largely attended. 
Dr. Cranfill made the financial speech of the occasion and secured a 
collection of $15,000. The histor^^ of the campaign is a memorable 
one. The liquor men made a wise and judicious fight, which was 
characterized by their usual unscrupulousness and deception. Dr. 
Cranfill began the publication of the Waco DaiU' Advance, in addi¬ 
tion to the weekly, and also advocated the amendment in a number 
of speeches during the campaign. Among the noted epochs of his 
life was a public discussion between himself and Hon. R. Q. Mills, 
who was a ver^^ bitter opponent of prohibition. The debate was 
held at Crawford, McLennan Count^q where years before Dr. Cran¬ 
fill had taught the village school. An enormous audience was pres¬ 
ent, all expecting to see the distinguished Congressman devour the 
Prohibition editor. But the devouring came the other wa 3 '. Mr. 
Mills was utterH routed and was so chagrined at his defeat that he 
left town that night on a freight train. Dr. Cranfill was serenaded 
b\' the string band of the town, and his triumph over the great 
Democrat is well remembered by the citizens of Crawford. He was 
recording secretary- of the State Campaign Committee, and was 
universalh' regarded b\' all parties as one of the ablest champions 
of the movement in the State. During the progress of the cam¬ 
paign he carried his life in his hands, and an open attempt was 
made to assassinate him on the streets of Waco. He winced at 
none of these things, and persisted in impaling the liquor traffic, 
and discomfiting its friends. When the vote was counted it was 
found that the Prohibition amendment had received in round num¬ 
bers 130,000 votes. The machinery' of both the Democratic and 
Republican parties was used against the amendment and the plat- 


DR. JAMES B. CRANFILL. 


57 


form of the liquor men sagely declared that the movement was 
both “ anti-Republican and un-Democratic.” After the defeat of the 
Prohibition amendment, Dr. Cranfill continued the publication of 
his paper, but a large number of the advocates of prohibition had 
become discouraged b\" the failure to carr\^ the amendment, and his 
paper suffered greatly from lack of patronage. He had lost heavily 
on his daih", and these losses were augmented bj’’ constant losses on 
his weekh^ In 1888 he sold his paper to W. B. Knowles, of Dallas, 
and found that he had lost $5000, the earnings of his entire lifetime, 
and had accumulated also heavj’' indebtedness. The campaign com¬ 
mittee had also fallen heavilj" in debt, and Dr. Cranfill had worked 
until a reasonable amount had been collected with which to par¬ 
tially liquidate the indebtedness of the committee. It is perhaps 
proper to state in this connection that every cent of the amount he 
owed at the expiration of the campaign has been paid, although 
it has taken his utmost energies since that time to cover the losses. 
In 1888 he was chosen as one of the financial representatives of 
Baylor Universitj", the leading Baptist college in the State, and 
achieved such success that in January, 1889, he was chosen to take 
charge of the entire financial agency of the institution. In the fall of 
the same year when the Baptist State Convention met at Houston, 
he was chosen to the superintendency of State Missions, which is 
the leading position in the Baptist denomination in the State. Into 
this work he put his entire energies, and at the end of the year 
1891 it was shown that he had raised more money for State mis¬ 
sion work than had ever been raised by any secretary' of anj^ relig¬ 
ious body for a corresponding period of time in any State in the 
Union. 

In March, 1892, he with Rev. M. V. Smith, pastor of the 
Baptist church at Belton, purchased the Baptist Standard of Waco, 
Texas, which he now publishes, and which is the leading Baptist 
paper of the state. He has the confidence and esteem of the Bap¬ 
tists of the state, as well as of all other denominations. In Janu¬ 
ary, 1890, Dr. Cranfill was ordained as a Baptist preacher, by the 
First Baptist church of Waco, and he is regarded as one of the 
ablest ministers of his denomination in the state. 

In July, 1891, when the Baptists of America organized their 
National Young People’s Union, Dr. Cranfill was chosen as one of 
the three vice-presidents of the organization, and in July this year 
was elected First Vice-President. This movement has assumed 
great proportion in his denomination, and he is its very enthusiastic 
supporter. 

Dr. Cranfill is noted for his pungency as a writer and speaker. 




58 


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. 


and for his conscientiousness and energy in ever 3 ^thing he under¬ 
takes. He is a member of the National Reform Press Association, 
and in hearty sympathy with the current labor movement. His 
views against sectionalism are very strong and he has sought to 
impress them on the public in many ways. In appearance he is 
dignified and prepossessing, and in size is far above the average^ 
weighing 220 pounds. He has done considerable literary work; 
some of his productions have been published over and over again. 
He has two children: a daughter, fifteen, and a son, eleven 3 ’ears of 
age. He has one brother. Dr. T. E. Cranfill, of Waco, who is a 
practicing physician, and two sisters, both of whom are married.. 
His father is still living and resides at Gatesville, Texas. In discus¬ 
sion Dr. Cranfill is generous and humorous, and he is distinguished 
for his wit, both on the platform and in private life. 


NAMING CANDIDATES. 


The following is the account of the nominating of candidates 
as it appeared in the New York Voice: 

“The final session of the convention, Thursday evening, was 
opened with music by The Liberator band. Pra^^er was offered hy 
Rev. J. W. Hagans, of Indiana. 

“The roll of States was then called for nominations for Presi¬ 
dent. Alabama and Arkansas had no candidate to present. Cali¬ 
fornia called on Mr. St. John, of Kansas, to place General Bidwell 
in nomination. St. John said : 

“ ‘ It affords me not only a great pleasure but what I esteem to 
be one of the most distinguished honors of my .life to present the 
name of California’s candidate for President. He went to that 
State long before it was admitted into the Union; went there in 
1841, when a mere bo 3 ^ The man to whom I refer is in every 
respect a self-made man. Starting out in the world without educa¬ 
tion and without means, by his own efforts he has made his wa\"; 
educated himself, and is today one of the best posted of men, pos¬ 
sessed of a thorough education. He is a man who has alwaj'S been 
in sympathy with the great bodj^ of the people; a man who knows 
what it is to live in a dugout; a man who knows what it is to have 
his hands blistered and calloused; a man who knows what it is to 
dig deep in the mines and work his way by the sweat of his brow; 
a man who knows what it is to be among and in sympathy with 
the men of this country. This man has served a term in Congress.’’ 

“Ex-Governor St. John then referred in scathing terms to the 
unsigned dodgers which had been circulated among the delegates on 
the eve of the nominations attacking the character and record of 
General Bidwell. Continuing, he said: 

“ ‘This man served a term in Congress and it is said that he 
voted for the Pacific Railway land grant. He lived in California, 
that country" so far away, and if he had not voted for this grant he 
would have voted against the best wishes of his constituents. He 
was sent there to represent them. [Applause.] He cast a ballot 
that met the approval of the people that sent him. Another objec¬ 
tion is that he voted against taxing wines. God bless him. [Cries 









60 


NAMING CANDIDATES 


of ‘Amen.’] The greatest evil is that we impose a tax and take a 
revenue. Suppose he was wrong then. It is better to have been 
wrong then and right now than to have been a man then and a 
monkey now. [Applause.] 

“ ‘The man whose name I present to you, when his conscience 
told him that the manufacture and sale of wine was wrong, called 
his men to him and sent them to the vineyard and dug it up, root 
and branch, and burned it. [Applause.] He was a candidate of 
the Prohibition Party of California in 1890 and polled more votes 
than were ever given for any man in that State. During all these 
years his neighbors, the people of that State, never circulated a 
single scandal against him. 

“ ‘He owns a farm of 23,000 acres, and he works it and givea 
employment to 250 men on that farm. He has owned it for nearly 
lifty years. It came to him from the Mexican Government. When he 
came into possession of this land there was a little band of Indians 
on it, and he emplo 3 ^ed a school teacher, and built them houses and 
then a church, and the Indians are there, and General Bidwell 
preaches to them on the Sabbath. [Applause.] 

“ ‘The man whose name I present to j’ou is a man grand and 
broad and generous, a man who is competent to fill the position if 
elected, and God helping us we will elect him if we can. 

“ ‘It has been said that if he is nominated, when the Omaha 
convention convenes, he will resign in favor of the People’s Party 
nominee. General Bidwell is a true man, and I stand here and give 
my personal pledge that if he is nominated he will stand until the 
last ballot is polled in November.’ [Applause.] 

“Wardwell—‘It has been stated that John Bidwell is a very 
sick man, and is unable to do the duties of this office. Will you 
please speak on this statement ? ’ 

“St.John—‘That is untrue unless his wife is mistaken, and she 
has lived with him for twenty years and was with him yesterday.’ 

“Colorado, through John Hipp, seconded the nomination of 
Bidwell. Connecticut and Florida seconded Bidwell. 

“When Illinois was called Dr. J. G. Evans took the floor and 
said: 

“ ‘Illinois has a favorite son, and we had expected to present 
the name of that grand man for your suffrage tonight. Circum¬ 
stances have arisen, however, over which he seems to have nQ 
control, that have determined him of necessity to decline the nom¬ 
ination. ' I must refrain, therefore, from the very fine speech I had 
provided, and take very great pleasure in seconding the nomination 
of John Bidwell.’ 


AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION. 


61 


“ Iowa and Kansas seconded Bidwell. 

“Col. George W. Bain spoke in part as follows in behalf of 
Kentuck}^: 

“ ‘It is with pleasure that I second tonight the nomination of 
California’s grandest man, Gen. John Bidwell. [Applause.] In 
doing so I do not indorse a man I never saw, with whom I have no 
acquaintance. I became acquainted with him twenty" years ago. 
Standing b^' the side of Cleveland, he would tower almost eighteen 
inches above him; and standing by the side of the Republican 
candidate, he would hide him almost, hat and all.’ [Applause.] 

“ ‘We are told he was in favor of the wine interest twenty-five 
years ago. So was Paul in favor of the devil before he was con¬ 
verted. His conversion made him a hero of Christianity. Twenty- 
five years ago General Bidwell had not studied the temperance 
question. When the conviction came to him, what did he say? 
Did he say, ‘O, Conviction, wait until I sell m 3 ' vine 3 ''ard for half a 
million dollars ? ’ Or ‘ Conviction go th 3 ' wa 3 ’', at a more convenient 
season I will call for thee ? ’ Did he ? He said rather, ‘ Go, cut up 
that vine 3 'ard; take that wine from the storehouse and give it to 
the sick; so help me God, I will never take another dime from it.’ 
[Applause.] 

“ ‘Some sa\' he cannot make an active campaign. His temper¬ 
ance record in a campaign would be worth 50,000 speeches.’ 

“Yolne 3 ^ B. Cushing said: ‘The good old State of Maine, 
which has been a Prohibition Hercules for fortA' 3 'ears, seconds the 
nomination of that Hercules of Prohibitionists of the Pacific coast, 
Gen. John Bidwell.’ 

“Walcott Hamlin, of Massachusetts, pledged the loyal support 
of the Ba 3 ^ State to the nominee of the convention, whoever he 
might be. 

“Chairman Samuel Dickie, speaking for Michigan, said: 

“ ‘Michigan has a favorite son. She has within her ranks a 
man known to the Prohibitionists of every State of the Union, a 
man whom all the Prohibitionists of Michigan know but to love, 
and, knowing well, are proud to speak his name with honor ever 3 '- 
where. It had been the purpose of the Michigan delegation to 
show its love, its devotion and its desire to honor this son by a 
complimentary vote, but that son himself asks that the second 
ballot be rather expressed at this moment, so you will pardon me 
if I vary the usual custom and say that he whom Michigan most 
desires joins in expressing a desire that the Alichigan delegation 
shall second the nomination of Gen. John Bidwell.’ [Applause.] 




62 


NAMING CANDIDATES 


“Minnesota, Missouri, through Dr. John A. Brooks, and Mon¬ 
tana seconded the nomination of Bidwell. 

“A. G. Wolfenbarger, for eighteen of the twenty-three Nebraska 
delegates, seconded the nomination of Bidwell. 

“ ‘ We ask for this magnificent party of the people a man of the 
people. We ask for a courageous, faithful founder, a true and tried 
pioneer. We ask a President who, when elected, will not travel 
from ocean to ocean with a drunken crowd. [Applause.] We ask 
a President who will not set the pernicious example to the young 
manhood of the country of serving five kinds of wine at public 
banquets, or permit his name to be used in connection with par¬ 
ticular brands of brandy. We ask for a President one who will not 
ask or accept when sent across the sea a forty-three gallon barrel of 
whisky. [Applause.] We ask for a President one whose brave 
little wife will not let the wine cup disgrace the table of the White 
House. Nebraska, through a majority of her delegation, asks for 
that prince of leaders, that champion, John Bidwell, of the Pacific 
' Coast.’ 

“Nevada and New Jerse 3 ^ seconded the nomination of Bidwell. 

“ When New York was called Mr. Ward well said: ‘The State of 
New York as a delegation has no candidate to present, but it voted 
seventy-three for Mr. Bidwell and twelve for Mr. Demorest, and 
under the rule I ask that the friends of Mr. Demorest may be 
allowed to present his name from New York.’ 

“John Llo\"d Thomas was introduced to present the name of 
Demorest. Mr. Thomas said ‘ when the t 3 ^pical leader of the Pro¬ 
hibitionists declined the nomination the great masses of the Prohi¬ 
bition party turned spontaneously to one man in this country, 
whose name it is not necessary to spell before an 3 ^ man, woman or 
child in this great land, whose record it is not necessary to vindicate 
in this country, whose political record it is not necessary to explain 
to anv man in this land of ours, and that man is W. Jennings 
Demorest, of New York. [Applause.] 

“ ‘When he was nominated the nomination simply voiced the 
sentiments of those of my brethern and sisters who do not attend 
our National Convention, but whose votes are cast into the ballot 
boxes, and whose influence and words are the agencies by which the 
strength and power of the Prohibition party has been made. In 
all this controversy there has not been a possibility to wipe out the 
record made by W. Jennings Demorest during the last eight or ten 
years. W. Jennings Demorest is a home-vindicator, and there is not 
a member of our part 3 ^ in this city today who believes the charges 
that have been made against that noble man during the two or 


AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION. 


63 


three days we have been assembled here. Shame friends! The 
blush of shame should rise to the cheek of those who can claim that 
the efforts of the men and women who have trained little children 
to labor and pray for W. Jennings Demorest have been made to 
satisfy the selfish ambition of any man. I hold in my hand this 
moment a telegram sent by an old veteran, Horace Waters, of New 
York City. It vras sent up to the desk of the convention, and there 
it was decided not to read the telegram. Why? It shall be read: 

‘ Am sorry I cannot be with you, and praying that wisdom may be 
given you to defeat every effort at fusion and compromise. Stand 
firm and true. Nominate that stalwart Prohibitioni.st and reformer, 
W. Jennings Demorest, who will never turn from the middle of the 
king’s highway. 

“ ‘One word in conclusion. Let us remember it is not said 
against any candidate. Thank God those who have nominated 
Demorest have done so sincerely, honestly, unselfishly, patriotically 
without any mercenary motives whatever. I say those who have 
advocated the nomination of Demorest have never uttered a word, 
whispered a syllable, or printed a line in detraction of any man. 
Demorest and his friends, in spite of the fact that they honestly 
believe that this convention has seriously and sadly weakened our 
platform, will work as loyally, as earnestly, as stanchly as any 
man in the convention.’ 

“Grandison, of North Carolina, seconded the nomination of 
Demorest for a portion of the delegation of that State: 

“ ‘ We want to put in nomination a man whom every negro in 
the land knows, and I want to assure 3^011 this Prohibition move¬ 
ment will never be a success until the ebony palm of the bfack man 
and lily palm of the white man clasp. [Applause.] And I want to 
say furthermore that we are not going to make any great headway 
in the South in breaking up the solid party until every time we take 
a white vote from the Democratic party we take a black vote from 
the Republican party.’ [Applause.] 

“North Dakota seconded Bidwell. 

“ L. B. Logan, speaking for Ohio, said: 

“ ‘ I have been carved to the heart to think that it should be 
necessary at this stage of our political campaign to defend the can¬ 
didates presented to this convention from this platform. It is be¬ 
ginning ver 3 " early. I have no unkind word to sa 3 ^ to either of the 
names that have been presented. 

“ ‘ I heard something said about self-made men. The candidate 
whom I present in the name of Ohio delegates was left an orphan, 
and at the age of thirteen we find him teaching school in a Buckeye 





64 


NAMING CANDIDATES 


State. Later we find him at Dubuque on an Abolition paper. After 
the war he returned to Ohio, where his perseverance and talent 
have raised him to his present high standing. We say to j^ou that 
in voting for this man, tested and tried for twent^^-three years in 
the fiery furnace in the birth and struggle of your party, you can 
make no possible mistake. Twice in the past he has been the unani¬ 
mous choice of our delegates. First in 1880, when .he withdrew in 
favor of our beloved leader John P. St. John. Men of Maine, land 
of the rising sun; men of California, where it sets to rest, we nomi¬ 
nate the Hon. Gideon T. Stewart [applause], and every utterance 
of his, whether oral or written, will go to the very heart and leave 
not a single excuse for apology or defense. Ohio delights to present 
to you Hon. Gideon T. Stewart, of Newark.’ 

“A. A. Stevens, in behalf of sixt 3 ^-six of the eighty delegates 
from Pennsjdvania, seconded the nomination of Bidwell. 

“Tallie Morgan, for the remainder of the Pennsjdvania delega- 
gation, desired to give way to Van Bennett, of Kansas, to second 
the nomination of Demorest, but this proposal was ruled out by 
the chair. Mr. Alorgan said: 

“ ‘I shall work from this day until the polls close for the nom¬ 
inee of the convention, but I wish to say tliat the strongest man we 
can nominate is W. Jennings Demorest, of New York. In corres¬ 
pondence with John P. St. John I came out in the opinion that 
Demorest was the next strongest man since St. John wrote to me he 
would not accept the nomination. I believe the convention could 
not do better than nominate W. Jennings Demorest, of New York, 
because he is a Prohibitionist. Mr. Chairman, it is for that reason 
we work 'for Mr. Demorest. I ask the convention to give its vote 
to Demorest, and I believe in my heart of hearts he is the strongest 
man that can be nominated.’ 

“South Dakota, through A. R. Cornwall, seconded the nomina¬ 
tion of Bidwell. 

“Tennessee had no candidate to present, but would support the 
nominee of the convention. 

“Vermont seconded Demorest. 

“J. W. Wells, for the State of Washington, seconded the nom¬ 
ination of W. Jennings Demorest. 

“ West Virginia had no candidate. 

“Wisconsin said ‘Amen ’ to the nomination of Bidwell. 

“Sam Small, in behalf of Georgia, which had been passed when 
first called, took the floor to second the nomination of Demorest: 

“ ‘We cast these votes for him, gentlemen of this convention, 
not in any disparagement of the name, the character or the contri- 


AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION. 


65 


butioiis of aii}^ other man in the Prohibition Party. We love him 
because we know him. We respect him because we have confidence 
in his integrity and in his character. We honor him because of his 
record which has been presented here, and desire him because we 
know in the solid South there is not a name in the Prohibition 
Party that will compare with that of Demorest. We know him 
and know he is not physicially great, but there isn’t a school child 
in the South that needs to come and ask us, in the terms of the 
school-day recitation, ‘ How big is Alexander, pa ? ’ [Applause.] 

“ ‘There has never been a greater benefactor of the Prohibition 
Party than W. Jennings Demorest. And whatever his wealth, he 
has not hidden it and locked it up, but, thanks be to God, it glitters 
in silver, gold and diamonds upon the bosoms of our sons and 
daughters. [Applause.] And, gentlemen, let me tell you, you may 
drive the steel to the heart of W. Jennings Demorest tonight, but 
your children will look shame-faced upon your acts in the j^ears to 
come. He may be marked for slaughter, but, thank God, the day 
will come in Prohibition conventions, as in other conventions, 
when the people will elect men and not merely ratify delegates.’ 
[Applause.] 

“Hale Johnson, of the Illinois delegation, introduced delegate 
Patton, who seconded the nomination of Gideon T. Stewart. 

“ The vote for Presidential candidates was then taken as follows: 


Alabama. 

Arkansas. 

California . 

Colorado. 

Connecticut ... 

Delaw’are. 

Florida. 

Georgia. 

Idaho . 

Illinois . 

Indiana. 

Iowa. 

Kansas . 

Kentucky. 

Louisiana. 

Maine. 

Maryland. 

Massachusetts 

Michigan. 

Minnesota. 

Mississippi. 

Missouri. 

Montana . 

Nebraska. 



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4 




13 




9 

2 

1 


14 

1 



2 




6 

i9 




5 



24 

13 

33 


22 

10 

6 


24 

3 

3 


27 




22 

"5 

4 


‘4 


3 


12 

6 

2 


24 

3 

10 


17 

6 

20 


22 

1 

3 


3 




22 

2 

3 


3 

1 



12 

8 




Nevada . 

New Hampshire. 

New Jersey. 

New York . 

North Carolina. 

North Dakota. 

Ohio . 

Oregon. 

Pennsylvania. 

Rhode Island. 

South Carolina... 

South Dakota ... 

Tennessee. 

Texas. 

Vermont . 

Virginia. 

Washington. 

West Virginia. 

Wisconsin. 

Wyoming . 

Arizona . 

District of Columbia 


Totals 


73 

- 

T. 

E i 

1 

< 

2 

0 

CO 

o 

o 

P 


X 


_ j 

_ 

_ 

1 



2 

2 


25 ! 

1 

2 

70 ' 

12 

6 

9 i 

8 


3 


i 

2 


68 

3 



65 

17 

3 

9 

•• 

•• 

3 

30 


•• 

3 

3 

5 

11 



. 9 

8 

4 

6 



9 

2 

1 

. 32 


6 

1 


•• 

• 



. *583 

1 142 

184 


» 

jO 

o 

O 


‘ * Exact footings. The discrepancies between lootings uiis ust ctuu vutc cts 

announced are due to changes before result was announced. The same is true of 
the Vice-Presidential vote. 






















































































66 


NAMING CANDIDATES 


“The demonstration was renewed for ten minutes after the 
seeretar^^ had finished announeing the vote, whieh was finally made 
as follows: Bidwell, 590; Stewart, 179; Demorest, 139; Bas- 
com, 3. 

Col. R. S. Cheves moved to make the nomination of Bidwell 
unanimous. The motion was seeonded by one of Stewart’s friends 
from Ohio, and adopted with a might 3 ^ shout. The convention 
again rose to its feet, and for ten minutes the demonstration which 
broke loose on the announcement of the former vote was continued. 

“A purse of $200 was presented to John Lloyd Thomas b^'' St. 
John in behalf of the friends of the former gentleman. 

“Nominations for Vice-President were then called for and the 
rules were amended to allow the nominating speakers five minutes 
each and seconding speakers one minute each. 

“ Georgia presented the name of Sam W. Small. 

“Iowa, through the Chairman of her State delegation, named 
Col. George W. Bain, of Kentuck 3 ^ 

“Kansas seconded the nomination of Bain. 

“ Colonel Bain, in a feeling speech, declined to be a candidate. 

“When Mar\dand was called W. Frank Tucker took the floor 
and presented the name of Joshua Levering, of Baltimore. 

“Massachusetts seconded Levering. 

“Michigan, through Chairman Dickie, announced itself solid for 
Levering. 

“James P. Pinkhim, of Minnesota, presented the name of W. W. 
Satterlee for Vice-President. 

“Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey and North Dakota 
seconded the nomination of Levering. 

“Dunn, of Wisconsin, presented the name of Dr. J. B. Cranfill 
of Texas. 

“L. G. Jordan, of Penns^dvania, seconded the nomination of 
Cranfill. 

“West Virginia nominated Hon. T. R. Carskadon, the famous 
farmer of ‘Radical Hill.’ 

“Sam Small declined to become a candidate and seconded the 
nomination of Cranfill. 

“The vote for Vice-Presidential nominee, being taken, stood as 
follows: 


AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION. 


67 



Levering ... 

Satterlee.... 

Carskadon... 

Cranfill. 


Levering.... 

Satterlee— 

Cai’skadon.. 

Cranfill. 

Alflbnma. 



2 

4 

Nebraska. 

6 



13 

ArksinsHS. 




3 

Nevada,... . 




1 

California. 

10 



3 

New Hampshire. 

3 




Colorado. 

9 




New Jersey. 

27 



1 

Connpntinnt,. 

13 




New York. 

31 


i 

49 

Delaware. 

1 




North Carolina. 




16 

Eloridn,. 




6 

North Dakota. 

4 




rrP.nrgifi, . 

6 



11 

Ohio. 

30 



k) 

Tdfibo . ,. 




5 

Oregon. 




3 

Illinois . 

29 

2 


39 

Pennsylvania. 

36 


2 

28 

T ndin.na. 

10 

1 

1 

21 

Rhode Island. 

7 




T owa,. 

12 



12 

South Carolina. 





ICnnsa.s. 

22 



3 

South Dakota. 

3 




ITpntnoky. 

9 



14 

Tennessee. 

2 



24 

T .r\n 1 si q n p. 





Texas. 




10 

AIainp . . 

"6 



1 

Vermont. 

9 




Maryland. 

21 

, , 



Virginia. 

1 


i 

i4 

]VIj^ssapI'nspt,t,s. . .. 

17 



6 

Washington. 

6 




Michigan. 

40 


1 

1 

West Virginia. 



13 


Minnpsfita, . 


25 


1 

Wisconsin. 

i7 



12 

"yiississippi. 




3 

Wyoming. 

1 




Missouri.". 

26 

1 







— 

Alontpufi- . 

2 


i 

i 

Totals. 

416 

2t 

22 

345* 












*See note at foot of preceding table. 


“On completion of the roll call it was found that no candidate 
had received sufficient votes to nominate. Active efforts on the part 
of Sam Small and others quickly brought about changes notably in 
Georgia and Illinois, swelling the Cranfill column. The vote as 
finally announced stood Cranfill, 416; Levering, 356; Satterlee, 
26; Carskadon, 3; giving Cranfill the nomination for Vice-Presi¬ 
dent. 

“Dr. Cranfill was called on and responded to the shouts and 
cheers of the delegates in the following brief address; 

“ ‘ Ladies and gentlemen of the National Prohibition Conven¬ 
tion, if I were to begin at this late hour and make you a long speech 
it would prove you had made the mistake in nominating me for 
Vice President. I will say I appreciate most highly the honor con¬ 
ferred on me and my State. I can only say that I will give to this 
work all that is in me of nerve and heart and brain and soul and 
energy [applause], and that section from which I come will roll up 
Yote for the Prohibition party that has ever been polled 
in the Southern States. [Applause.] I shall be loyal to tYcrj plank 
in the National platform, standing upon every one with all my 
force and defending every one.’ ” [Great Applause.] 





























































































NATfONAL PROHIBITION PLATFORM 


ADOPTED JUNE 30, 1892. 


The Prohibition partA', in National Convention assembled, 
acknowledging Almighty' God as the source of all true government, 
and his law as the standard to which all human enactments must 
conform to secure the blessings of peace and prosperitA^ presents 
the folloAAong declaration of principles: 

1. The liquor traffic is a foe to civilization, the arch enemy of 
popular gOA^ernrnent, and a public nuisance. It is a citadel of forces 
that Avill corrupt politics, promote poA'erty and crime, degrade a 
nation’s home life, thAAmrt the Avill of the people, and deliver the 
countr^^ into the hands of rapacious class interests. All Ihaa'S that, 
under the guise of regulation, legalize and protect this traffic, or 
make the government share in its ill-gotten gains, are “Aucious in 
principle and powerless as a remedy.” We declare ane\A" for the 
entire suppression of the manufacture, sale, importation, exporta¬ 
tion and transportation of alcoholic liquors as a bcA^erage, b3^ 
federal and state legislation, and the full powers of the government 
should be exerted to secure this result. Any partA" that fails to 
recognize the dominant nature of this issue in American politics is 
undeserving the support of the people. 

2. No citizen shall be denied the right to vote on account of 
sex, and equal labor should receiA^e equal Avages AAuthout regard to 
sex. 

3. The moncA' of the country should be issued b 3 " the general 
government onhq in sufficient quantities to meet the demands of 
business, and give full opportunitA' for the emploA’ment of labor; to 
this end an increase in the A'olume of monej^ is demanded, and no 
indi\ddual or corporation should be alloAA^ed to make aiiA' profit 
through its issue. It should be made legal tender for paA^ment of 
all debts, public and private. Its volume should be fixed at a 





NATIONAL PROHIBITION PLATFORM. 


69 


definite sum per capita, and made to increase with our increase in 
population. 

4. Tariff should be levied only as a defense against foreign 
governments, which levy a tariff upon or bar out our products 
from their markets, revenue being incidental. The residue of means 
necessary to an economical administration of the government, 
should be raised by levying a burden on what the people possess, 
instead of upon what they consume. 

5. Railroad, telegraph and other corporations should be con¬ 
trolled by the government, in the interests of the people, and no 
higher charges allowed than necessary to give fair interest on the 
capital actually invested. 

6. Foreign immigration has become a burden upon industry, 
one of the factors in depressing wages and causing discontent. 
Therefore, our immigration laws should be revised, and strictly 
enforced. The time of residence for naturalization should be ex¬ 
tended, and no naturalized person should be allowed to vote until 
one year after he becomes a citizen. 

7. A non-resident should not be allowed to acquire land in this 
country, and we favor the limitation of individual and corporate 
ownership in land. All unearned grants of land to railroad com¬ 
panies or other corporations should be reclaimed. 

8. The years of inaction and treachery on the part of the 
Republican and Democratic parties have resulted in the present 
reign of mob law, and we demand that every citizen be protected in 
the right of trial by constitutional tribunals. 

9. All men should be protected by law in their right to one 
day’s rest in seven. 

10. Arbitration is the wisest and most economical and humane 
method of settling national differences. 

11. Speculations in margins covering grains, money and prod¬ 
ucts and the formation of pools, trusts and combinations for the 
arbitrary advancement of prices should be suppressed. 

12. We pledge that the Prohibition party, if elected to power, 
will ever grant just pensions to disabled veterans of the Union 
army and navy, their widows and orphans. 

13. We stand unequivocally for the American public school, 
and opposed to any appropriation of public moneys for sectarian 
schools. We declare that only by the united support of such com¬ 
mon schools, taught in the English language, can we hope to 
become and remain a homogeneous and harmonious people. 

14. We arraign the Republican and Democratic parties as false 
to the standards reared by their founders, as faithless to the 






70 


NATIONAL PROHIBITION PLATFORM. 


principles of the illustrious leaders of the past, to whom they do 
homage with their lips; as recreant to the “higher law,” which is 
as inflexible in political affairs as in personal life, and as no longer 
embodying the aspirations of the American people, or inviting the 
confidence of enlightened, progressive patriotism. Their protest 
against the admission of “moral issues” into politics is a confession 
of their own moral degeneracy. The declaration of an eminent 
authority that municipal misrule is “ one of the conspicuous failures 
of American politics”, follows as a natural consequence such 
degeneracy, and is true alike for cities under Republican and Demo¬ 
cratic control. Each accuses the other of extravagance in congres¬ 
sional appropriations, and both alike are guilty. Each protests 
when out of power against the infraction of the civil service laws, 
and each, when in power, violates those laws in both letter and 
spirit. Each has professed fealt^^ to the interests of the toiling 
masses, but both covertl 3 ^ truckle to the money power in their 
administration of public affairs. Even the tariff issue, as repre¬ 
sented in the Democratic Mills bill and the Republican McKinley 
bill, is no longer treated by them as an issue upon great and 
divergent principles of government, but is a mere catering to 
different sectional and class interests. The attempt of many states 
to wrest the Australian ballot system from its true purpose, and so 
deform it as to render it extremely difficult for new parties to 
exercise the rights of suffrage, is an outrage upon popular govern¬ 
ment. The competition of both parties for the vote of the slums, 
and the assiduous courting of the liquor power, and subserviency 
to the money power, has resulted in placing those powers in the 
position of practical arbiters of the destinies of the nation. We 
renew our protest against these perilous tendencies, and invite all 
citizens to join us in upbuilding a party that has shown in five 
national campaigns that it prefers temporary defeat to abandon¬ 
ment of the claims of justice, sobriety, personal rights and the 
protection of American homes. 

Recognizing and declaring that the prohibition of the liquor 
traffic has become the dominant issue in national politics, we invite 
to full party fellowship all those who on this one dominant issue 
are agreed with us, in full belief that this part}^ can and will remove 
sectional differences, promote national unit\', and insure the best 
welfare of our entire land. 



GENERAL BIDWELL’S LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE. 


Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Committee: 

By your polite letter of this date, which I have the honor to 
receive at your hands, I am formally notified that the National Pro¬ 
hibition Convention in session in the city of Cincinnati, adopted a 
platform of principles for the coming political campaign, and there¬ 
upon conferred upon me the distinguished honor of its nomination 
for President of the United States. 

In accepting the nomination, which I do with misgivings as to 
my ability to meet the just expectations of the people, permit me 
to thank vou, gentlemen, for the courteous and kindly manner in 
which you have been pleased to discharge the trust assigned you, 
and through you, to embrace the occasion to express to the mem¬ 
bers of the convention and the friends of Prohibition and Reform 
throughout the coitntr 3 ^ whom yoti represent, m^^ grateful acknowl¬ 
edgments. 

It is scarce!}’- necessary to add that I am overwhelmed with a 
keen sense of the respon.sibility which I assume. 

Mistakes are possible, but I trust the cause ma}- not suffer in 
my hands. All I have to plead is unswerving devotion to those 
great principles and needed reforms which have brought into exist¬ 
ence the Prohibition party of the nation. 

Those who witnessed the convention in Cincinnati need not be 
reminded that something of unusual moment had aroused the na¬ 
tion and brought together a representative bod}" of men and 
women, the equal of which for intelligence and patriotic earnestness 
has seldom if ever been seen at any former period. 

In 1776 our fathers made proclamation of the birth of the 
nation. Now, having grown to be one of the greatest powers of 
the earth, the freest and best Government ever devised, the hope of 
the world, this “grandest governmental fabric of human inven¬ 
tion,” our beloved American nation is, in the minds of the most 
thoughtful and intelligent people, drifting unmistakably towards 
decay, if not to sure and and swift destruction. 



72 


GENERAL BIDWELL’S 


Prohibition comes therefore to proelaim, as we believe, the only 
way of salvation. 

There are well founded apprehensions that this nation which we 
love—this mighty empire of sovereign states—eannot survive unless 
redeemed from the dangers that jeopardize its existence, prominent 
among which are that immeasurable evil, the monstrous liquor 
traffic, and the numerous forms and phases of monopolistic combi¬ 
nations, creating immense wealth in the hands of the few and im¬ 
poverishing the many. The same eauses and processes which have 
created increasing numbers of millionaires will, if unchecked under 
the rule of .the old political parties, in time turn over the entire 
nation into the hands of an aristocracy of monster billionaires. 

Labor ereates the wealth of the country. Without labor there 
can be no development of resources, no national prosperity. The 
liquor traffic robs, impoverishes and demoralizes labor, thereby 
sapping the very foundations of the national fabric. 

The liquor traffic is an enormous incubus upon the nation, 
amounting in cost and consequences to the annual'sum of not less 
than two billions of dollars—four times the amount requisite to 
pay the annual expenses of the national government, even under 
the recent expensive administrations. 

But it is not neeessary further to enumerate; suffice it to say, 
the liquor traffie is a standing curse; a danger to public health ; the 
prolifie source of untold politieal corruption, crimes, diseases, degra¬ 
dation and death; a public nuisance and a publie immorality; in a 
word, it is an unmitigated and measureless evil without a redeem¬ 
ing feature. 

Every eonsideration of justice, the public welfare, protection to 
labor, all cry out against this great wrong. The only adequate 
remed 3 ^ lies in the entire overthrow of the liquor traffic in every 
State and Territory. 

The liquor power leads, eorrupts and dominates both the old 
political parties. Without the liquor support neither could make 
another political fight or win a victory. 

The Prohibition party asks the intelligent and patriotic people 
of this nation this question. Are not these eharges true? And if 
true, have we not a right to ask. How can any good man consist¬ 
ently support the infamous saloon business, by longer elinging to 
the destinies of those parties ? 

The family is the unit of civilized government. Protect the 
home and the nation will be proteeted. 

In the name of right and humanity then, let not free, enlight¬ 
ened and Christian Ameriea longer injure and degrade woman by 


LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE. 


73 


withholding from her that which is her inalienable right, that which 
will elevate American womanhood, that which will enlarge her use¬ 
fulness; that which will impart to her greater ability to be the 
helper and co-worker with man under all circumstances and condi¬ 
tions ; that which alone will make woman man’s equal before the 
law’ and place in her hands the most efficient weapon with which to 
defend her rights and protect her home. I allude, of course, to that 
priceless heritage, the ballot. 

In doing this Americans should lose no time. Americans, of all 
people under the sun, are the most nearly ready. Our women know 
what the ballot is and its power; they are brave enough to ask it 
.because it is their right. They are as a class intelligent, virtuous, 
self-reliant, womanly, modest. 

If we delay, England will take the lead in the emancipation of 
w’oman. 

The nation that first gives woman equal rights with man will 
earn a crown of imperishable glory. 

The old parties, controlled as they are by the liquor power and 
by vast monopolistic and other influences, cannot, dare not even 
propose, much less seriously purpose to overthrow the saloon, 
grant equal suffrage, or do any other act in the direction of a bene¬ 
ficent reform antagonistic to these controlling influences. 

They need them this year for re-election, they will need them 
next time and on as long as they have an existence. Powerful 
political parties invariabl 3 ^ in time become corrupt, and utterly 
helpless to right themselves. The onh" real service they can do is to 
go out of existence. It is a singular phenomenon that good men 
will remain in affiliation with such parties and thus lend aid and 
comfort to the liquor business. 

The financial question in our platform is briefly and fairly 
stated and broad enough to satisfy all reasonable men in these 
words, “The money of the country should consist of gold, silver 
and paper.’’ Also that it be “issued by the government onh’.” It 
should, of course, be in sufficient quantity to meet all demands, and 
the volume be so increased and adjusted as at all times to respond 
to the conditions of the country. 

Of all the forms used by men to over-reach each other in the 
scramble for wealth, there is none more oppressive and blighting to 
labor and business generally than the monopoly of mone 3 L Com¬ 
binations to lock up capital with the view to raise the rate of inter¬ 
est, or to reduce the price of labor or commodities, should be made 
illegal. 

Take farmers, for example. As a class they are compelled to be, 



74 


GENERAL BIDWELL’S 


and as a rule are, frugal. Yet there is little doubt that the mort¬ 
gages which cover their farms indicate with almost unerring 
certainty the overcharge of interest they are obliged to pay. 

The legal rate of interest on money should be made low and 
reasonable for the benefit of all classes, occupations and industries, 
and be uniform in all the States. No man ought to be compelled to 
pay exorbitant interest because he is poor. If his securit 3 ^ is doubt¬ 
ful, exacting from him high interest will not increase his ability to 
pay. As a matter of equity all who honestly and promptly pay 
should have the benefit of the legal low rate of interest. If combi¬ 
nations may be formed ad libitum to accumulate and hoard the 
money and the wealth of the country, they will soon have it in 
their power to stop the very wheels of progress—to exercise dan¬ 
gerous control over legislatures, courts and congresses, if not vir¬ 
tually to dictate all the affairs of the nation. 

In a wide sense all who pursue useful occupations, professions 
or callings are laborers. In the busy hive of national industry 
there is a place for the merchant, the mechanic, the doctor, the 
teacher, the learned professor, the law 3 ^er, the legislator—in a word, 
for all who in any manner perform useful or valuable service. 

In the common conception of the term laborers, (which I may 
use) it is usuall 3 ^ applied to those who labor with their hands. 
Happily in this land of freedom and equal rights all labor is 
regarded as honorable, and none more useful than manual labor. 

In order to relieve the labor of the country of its abnormal and 
often congested condition, there .should be the earliest possible 
revision and restriction of the immigration and naturalization laws 
of the United States. These laws, so inimical to American labor 
and the best interests of all, if not purposely enacted, have doubt¬ 
lessly been kept in force for partisan considerations—for fear of 
detriment to partisan interests—till our country has become the 
almost daily scene of riots, lawlessness and bloodshed, and not un- 
freciuently on such scale as to portend if permitted to go unchecked, 
the possible subversion of all authority. The discord between cap¬ 
ital and labor cannot safely be allowed to continue. No matter 
what the cause it is imperative to remove it. 

The general welfare and even the fate of the nation demand that 
a remedy be found and applied, whether by arbitration or other¬ 
wise. Tribunals of adequate jurisdiction can be provided to decide 
all difierences between men or bodies of men, be the 3 " large or small, 
capitalists or laborers, or employers and the employed. 

Labor itself has the deepest interest in the general welfare. All 
its hopes are inseparably associated with the prosperity and des- 


LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE. 


75 


tiny of the nation. All intelligent and patriotic Americans concede 
that the laboring classes and all classes have the right to ask and 
to receive ample and adequate protection under just and equal laws. 

Intelligent laboring men being in the majority at the polls, must 
bear in mind their own responsibility in making the laws to which 
themselves and all others are bound to yield obedience. 

That capital sometimes over-reaches and oppresses labor is 
doubtless true. There seems to be no limit to human greed. 

That labor is sometimes unreasonable and even vicious is also 
probably true. But lawlessness and lawless combinations of men, 
the only effect of which is to enervate and destroj”, must at once be 
put under the ban of severe public disapprobation if this country is 
to prosper. 

In the national hive there should be no drones. There should 
be room—and there is room—for all to labor, and all ought to have 
and must have the right to labor. It is a duty and a right that all 
men have to earn their bread and support their families. If it be 
necessary to have organizations as a defence against capital or 
competing labor, such organizations should be authorized and regu¬ 
lated by law. 

' Whatever tariffs may do they do not seem adequatel}" if at all 
to protect labor. Except the partial effort to check the introduc¬ 
tion of Mongolians our ports are open to all the world to come 
and compete with American labor. There is no tariff on labor. 

We must concede that all nations have the right to levy tariffs. 
As Americans we are in favor of protecting all American interests. 
The tariff proposed by the Democratic party and that of the 
Republican party differ only in degree—both are sufficiently high to 
be termed protective. 

To the objection that tariffs bear unequally—that is to say, 
that under them the rich pay comparatively nothing and the 
masses nearly all the revenue so derived to support the national 
government—must be added the further objection that the\’' are 
blinding and deceptive. 

Under the present tariff there is not a man in the United States 
who can tell what he pays toward the support of the national 
government. Impressed with this fact, which all intelligent citizens 
ought to know and all the people must sooner or later learn, the 
tariff is doubtless destined to undergo constant and numerous 
revisions by Congress in the impossible effort to equalize all its 
burdens and benefits. ' 

Our National Convention wisely'justifies tariff as a defensive 
measure, which practically can but mean Reciprocity. 



76 


GENERAL BIDWELL’S 


In a country of such vast and vaned resources as ours, such a 
tariff s^^steni could not fail to yield a very considerable revenue. 

A further provision of the platform contains a measure of 
revenue of such tranv«cendent importance as to commend itself to 
the fa,vor of all classes and especially the masses, in these words: 
“The residue of means necessary to an economical administration 
of the Government should be raised b 3 ^ lev 3 dng a burden on what 
the people possess instead of upon what the 3 ^ consume.” 

The platform fairly and, as I think with great wisdom, embraces 
the polic 3 ' of la 3 dng the burden of public revenue where it justly 
belongs and precisely where the abilit 3 ' lies to pay, namel 3 ", “on 
what the people possess; in other words, on their wealth—the 
value of which will generally be measured in dollars by the revenue 
or net income it yields to the possessor. 

An income tax can do no injustice, work no opposition; for 
where there is no income there will be nothing to pay; the rich will 
pay most and the poor least or nothing. This mode of revenue is 
no experiment in this country. During the great rebellion, when 
every source of revenue was strained to sustain the armies of the 
Union an income tax was resorted to and it worked like a charm. 

It helped then to save the Union and will help to save the 
nation now in another rebellion—the classes against the masses. 

Some men, of course, will always tr 3 ^ to evade the pa 3 unent of 
their just taxes. But no honest man, I think, can ever make an 3 ' 
reasonable objection to a well regulated income tax. 

The effect of this mode of raising national revenue cannot fail 
to be benehcent. It will relieve the poor without oppressing the 
rich. Perhaps no other measure possible to be devised will work 
greater reform or give greater impetus to general prosperit 3 ' than a 
wisely regulated income tax. One of its results would be to favor 
the ecpjal distribution of wealth ; it would go far to heal the grow¬ 
ing discord between labor and capital. 

A further important effect to flow from a revenue S 3 'stem based 
on “What the people possess instead of upon what the 3 ^ consume” 
would be that it would at once become the interest of all, rich and 
poor alike, to align themselves on the side of the strictest economy 
in all branches of the public service. 

There is perhaps no one issue in all the broad arra 3 " of Prohibi¬ 
tion principles embraced in our national platform of more vital 
concern to the material prosperity of our whole countr 3 ', than that 
of transportation. Hence we declare in favor of government 
control of “Railroad, telegraj^h and other public corporations”, in 
the interest of all the people. If i‘ailwa 3 "S cannot otherwise be so 


LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE. 


77 


controlled, then it becomes the imperative duty of government to 
acquire and exercise absolute ownership, especially of the great 
trunk lines, for we mean practical and efficient control—nothing 
less. 

So essential is this instrumentality to our national life and 
prosperity in this stage of rapid transit, that whatever powers 
own and control the railways of the United States, intimately 
associated as they are with other great monopolistic interests, will 
have it within their sway virtually to own and control the govern¬ 
ment. 

It is well known that railways and their natural affiliations 
(the great moneyed and other corporate powers) have alreadj^ a 
most dangerous influence in all elections and in every department of 
the government. They are absolutely corrupting. We boast that 
ours is the freest and best government, and so it is. 

But the question comes home to every thoughtful mind: Is it 
safe for the people to surrender their rights into the hands of great 
corporations ? 

The transportation question has and will ever have an import¬ 
ant effect in adding strength to the bonds of the national union, by 
multiplying the facilities for travel and the commingling of the 
people of all sections, thereby dissipating prejudices, forming and 
connecting friendships, unifying the people in language, in national 
spirit and love of country through the constant medium of more 
intimate social and business relations. 

For these considerations, transportation must be controlled— 
owned if necessary—bj^ the government of the United States. 

The general diffusion of morality and intelligence is essential to 
the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people. One 
State constitution has it in these words: 

“A general diffusion of knowledge and intelligence being essen¬ 
tial to the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people, the 
Legislature shall encourage by all suitable means the promotion of 
intellectual, scientific, moral and agricultural improvement.” 

Another State constitution has the same declaration thus: 
“Knowledge and learning, generally diffused throughout the com- 
munit3q being essential to the preservation of a free government, it 
shall be the dut^^ of the General Assembh' to encourage hy all 
suitable means, moral, intellectual, scientific and agricultural 
improvement.” 

We have, therefore, ample reason for the conclusion that this 
free popular government—this mighty empire of sovereign States 
can onl}" be preserved on the basis of moralitj' and intelligence. 



78 


GENERAL BIDWELL’S 


The demand is therefore imperative that ample means of educa¬ 
tion upon such basis be provided at the public expense and placed 
within the reach of every child in the nation. 

The transcendent importance of the common school cannot be 
too firmly emphasized. 

Our National Convention has therefore wisely made prominent 
in its platform the American public school, which should be, if 
possible, the most prevalent and conspicuous object in the nation. 
Over it the flag of freedom should ever be unfurled, for it should be 
a school of patriotism as well as of intelligence and morality. The 
teachings of the American public school should be in accord with 
American ideas—with American civilization, which, of course, is a 
Christian civilization; but they must be strictly—absolutely—non¬ 
sectarian. The standard of morality must accord with our civili¬ 
zation and pervade all the books and teachings of the public school 
—which must not in any phase be a school of immorality. 

Complaint has been made from sources that American public 
schools are godless and immoral and, therefore, not good enough to 
suit some people. The remedy is, to make them good enough. 
Place them on a high moral standard. Eliminate from the public 
school every feature that has the slightest tendency to immorality; 
ever bearing in mind that under our form of government the condi¬ 
tions essential to our existence as a nation make it imperative that 
all public schools be free from ever}^ sectarian influence. 

In the interest of national unity there should be a national lan¬ 
guage—and that of course the English. 

No other should be the language of the public school. A knowl¬ 
edge of the national language so far as to read and write the same 
fairly well, should, in addition to good moral character, be made a 
condition of naturalization and the inestimable right of .suffrage. 

Taking our rank as we do foremost among Christian nations, 
we ought not as a nation to ignore the Christian Sabbath. 

The closing of the World’s Fair on Sunday is important to 
show to the world America’s rank among the nations. 

This magnificent republic, with an area equal to that of all 
Europe; with a population already of nearly sixty-five millions; 
with industries and resources vast, varied and almost limitless; 
and with more than a century of unexampled prosperity and 
remarkable history, and destined in the providence of God, as we 
believe, to become the leading power of the world, is even yet 
regarded by other nations as in the experimental stage. The ene¬ 
mies of free government still predict and doubtless hope to see 



LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE. 


79 


America’s downfall. America was never more on trial than it is 
today. 

Dangers are ever present. The eyes of the world are upon us to 
see whether or not America posvsesses in a measure equal to or 
greater than monarchies the elements of strength and perpetuity to 
carry our government through all present and possible emergencies. 

The same wisdom and patriotism that laid the foundation will 
be required to preserve the temple of liberty. Our foes are more 
numerous than at the beginning and our dangers are multiplied. 
Eternal vigilance was never more necessary. The important ques¬ 
tion of the hour is: How can this Republic be tided over all the 
dangers that threaten and be preserved to bless the world ? 

The far-seeing patriot makes answer: Banish alcohol, and make 
the nation sober. Make the people intelligent, moral and law- 
abiding. 

Control all monopolies in the interest of the people. Banish 
anarchy, punish all crimes, suppress all lawless combinations. Re¬ 
strict foreign immigration. Rest the right of suffrage and citizen¬ 
ship on the sure basis of morality and intelligence. 

Teach all children in the American public school the sacredness 
of the ballot, of obedience to law, of willing submission to rightful 
authority, and the settlement of differences between men by arbitra¬ 
tion. 

That all great national questions must be settled and all dan¬ 
gers averted and all needful reforms achieved by the same sacred 
principle of unreserved acquiescence in the majority rule. Majori¬ 
ties make the laws. Majorities repeal them. 

We fondly believe ours to be the best government the world has 
seen. On the principle stated of adhering sacredly to obedience to 
law and the arbitrament of all questions to majorities there can be 
no reason why our free popular government may not, under the 
blessing of God, endure till the close of time. The x^rinciple is of 
such vital moment that we cannot begin too soon to make it a 
feature in this curriculum in all the American public schools. 

Making this the inflexible rule of our faith and practice, this 
proud republic, with all its vast concerns, may be easily held 
together by the bonds of common interest, even were our bound¬ 
aries enlarged and our population and all our national affairs 
indefinitely multqDlied. 

The principles of our Prohibition platform as far as I have been 
able to refer to them are ample to show that the^^ cover as entirely 
as ought to be desired in a brief outline of party policy, many if not 


80 


GENERAL BIDWELL’S 


the most of the prominent problems pressing for solution at the 
present hour. 

Our platform warrants unyielding opposition to all specula¬ 
tions in margins, to “the cornering of grain, money and products,” 
to “pools, trusts,” etc., and by implication to lotteries and all 
other modes of gambling, public and private. 

But further allusion to our principles is not necessary. We 
cover a wider field than any other political party. We claim that 
ours is the only party that promises anything whatever in the line 
of real reform. 

In 1776 we needed immigration. The complaint against Eng¬ 
land was that immigration had been obstructed. But times have 
changed. We make no war against foreigners as such. This is a 
world of competition. Every nation is competing with all other 
nations. Some are favored nations. Ours is one. All the world 
has been and still is coming to us. 

But we must now begin to close the doors in self-defense. We 
do not want the world faster than we can Americanize the world. 
We have already quite enough of imported nihilism, anarchism and 
pauperism. 

We do not ask foreigners coming to this land of freedom to 
change their faith. We do not propose to Protestantize or Roman¬ 
ize or in any manner sectarianize them. But we do insist that they 
shall not destroy our liberties bj^ any attempt to foreignize, or 
anarchize us or our government; that they should appreciate our 
liberties and privileges; that as a condition of citizenship they 
should learn to speak our national language and to read and write 
it fairly well. 

Our safety and all our future demands that our government 
shall never in any manner become denominational or sectional. 

Unfortunately at present labor in this countr 3 'is divided against 
itself. Banish the saloon, restrict immigration, and relief will soon 
follow. 

Prohibition is the greatest friend of labor. No other can 
achieve in full measure entire relief. We propose to make labor 
moral, intelligent and united in the common prosperity. 

To save and perpetuate this nation our hope is in the masses— 
in the labor—and not monopolies. 

Wealth is boundless in its ambition to gain wealth, and would 
if it could monopolize the ver 3 ^ earth. Therefore, we say the hope 
of this nation is in the many and not the few—the man^’' are they 
who labor. 


LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE. 


81 


Our appeal is to the good and intelligent voters of all political 
parties. 

Religious denominations are all invited to unite in conquering 
our country for temperance. They can vie with each other in benefi¬ 
cent rivalry. Their field is our whole country and the world. We 
appeal to the courageous young manhood of the nation before it 
casts its first ballot, and to the older and veteran voters before they 
cast their latest—and perhaps their last vote—to vote against the 
saloon; that is to say, vote with the Prohibition party, for that is 
the only political party that dares oppose the liquor power. 

John Bid well. 


PRESS COMMENTS. 


Politically, a Christian man is at his worst in a whiskey party. 
—Western Leader. 

A fine old fellow of splendid character, [Bidwell].—Dayton, 
Ohio, Journal (Rep). 

Bid well and Cranfill is the handsomest tieket in the field.—San 
Francisco Evening Bulletin. 

Deserves full credit for his eonsisteney and self-sacrifice, [Bid- 
well].—Brooklyn Times (Rep). 

A broad enough platform for any true American to stand on.— 
Providence Independent Citizen. 

An estimable gentleman of high standing and wide experience, 
[Bidwell].—The Review of Reviews (Ind). 

A good, ti*ue man. He would sooner die than do a dishonest 
act, [Bidwell].—Salt Lake City Tribune (Rep). 

Better vote for what you want and not get it, than to vote for 
what you don’t want and get it.—New Republic. 

Take all the planks in all the political parties, save that of 
Prohibition, and the basis is dollars and cents.—Redlands, Cal., 
Facts. 

The men who make the best kind of Prohibitionists are those 
who would rather be right than vote for a winning President.— 
Outlook. 

Those who know General Bidwell, of California, unite in hearty 
expressions as to his exeellenee as a man and citizen.—Chicago 
Inter-Ocean (Rep). 

The Prohibitionists went West and South for their tieket. They 
are not sectional, and the party is not dominated by Wall street.— 
Mississippi Leader (Pro). 





PRESS COMMENTS. 


83 


General Bidwell as a man deserves all his popularity, however 
mueh we may think him mistaken in espousing the Prohibitionists. 
Palermo, Cal., Progress (Dem). 

He [Bidwell] bears an unspotted reputation, and has endeared 
himself to all classes by his intrepid character and his broad 
benevolence.—San Francisco Daih^ Examiner (Dem). 

A thoughtful and upright man, a good political manager, an 
old soldier with a fine record, a generous philanthropist, and patri¬ 
arch in appearance, [Bidwell].—New York Sun (Dem). 

A nation can never rise higher in morals or intelligence than its 
homes. Whatever corrupts the home corrupts the ruler. America 
should banish the drink traffic in self defence.—The People (Pro). 

As the campaign progresses in Iowa the fact becomes clearer 
that the Republican Party of that State did the wisest thing of its 
life when it dropped Prohibition.—St. Louis Globe-Democrat (Rep). 

He [Bidwell] is a man competent to fill the high office for which 
he is nominated, and his name is revered by all Californians. * * * 
He is a man of character, history, brains and principle.—Toledo, 
Ohio, Bee (Dem). 

Bidwell, the Prohibition candidate, has been formall 3 ^ notified. 
And we can say for Bidwell what we are unable to say for others 
who have also been notified. He came out of the ordeal sober.— 
New York Morning Advertiser. 

He [Bidwell] is far from being a crank. He is a man of broad, 
sound intellect, is thoroughly posted upon the topics of the times, is 
an entertaining public speaker, and an interesting contributor to 
the press.—New York World ( Dem). 

The $20,000 Prohibition campaign fund, subscribed by the dele¬ 
gates to the Cincinnati Convention, shows that there are more will¬ 
ing to give than to receive. This is where they differ from the 
average delegates.—Boston Herald (Ind). 

The national platform of the Prohibitionists, outside of the 
prohibition plank, is a great surprise. In fact it is one of the most 
striking marks of the progress of political intelligence that has 
recently been presented.—New York Nation. 

Bears an unblemished character, and has a kind and benevolent 
nature, which ,he had displayed in many ways. He has always 
been a public-spirited citizen who has commanded universal respect 
and esteem, [Bidwell].—San Francisco Daily Chronicle (Rep). 


84 


PRESS COMMENTS. 


Bidwell, according to Republican papers, was a great sinner. 
It is important to notice that ev.ery sin they enumerate was com¬ 
mitted while he was a Republican. When he unclasped his old 
party shackles he became a mighty good man. His acts show that. 
—The Patriot (Pro). 

The growth of sentiment throughout the nation in favor of the 
complete suppression of the liquor traffic, is one of the marvels of 
the age. The public press no longer hurls jeers or taunts at the 
movement working for the national prohibition of the traffic.— 
Buffalo Christian Advocate. 

“God bless my boy”, you pray at the altar; then at the ballot 
box you say, “ I give my boy up to be damned that my party may 
be saved.” In God’s eyes that Democratic or Republican father is 
under the spell of a devilish spirit. Judgment day has a terrible 
dose in store for him.—The Issue. 

The Prohibitionist Party has put up Dr. J. B. Cranfill for Vice- 
President. Well, they can’t say that Cranfill is a rat, that’s very 
certain. He is a great, big, all-of-out-of-doors good fellow, who is 
going to follow the right as he sees it, regardless of personal con¬ 
sequences.—Belton, Texas, Journal (Dem). 

The temperance plank in the Republican platform might have 
been adopted with perfect propriety by any Liquor Dealers’ Asso¬ 
ciation. It meets the approval of the trade. If our temperance 
reformers doubt the accuracy of our statement let them canvass the 
liquor dealers.—New York Wine and Spirit Gazette. 

The nomination of J. B. Cranfill, of Texas, by the Prohibition¬ 
ists, as their candidate for the Vice-Presidency, was a compliment 
to a most worthy man and a competent worker in the temperance 
effort. Their ticket is now Bidwell and Cranfill, and a very strong 
ticket it is.—“ Brick ” Pomeroy’s Advance Thought. 

Tall and erect in spite of his three score and ten years, sincere 
in his opinions, with fine, clear-cut features and a flowing beard, 
popular at home and abroad, the Prohibitionists have decidedly 
selected an excellent candidate, whose main or only drawback is 
the fact that he is a multimillionaire.—Rural New Yorker. 

Wffiile the Prohibitionists have accomplished practically nothing 
as a national party, it is doubtless true, as the Philadelphia Ledger 
says, that many recent “reforms in connection with the liquor 
traffic, though not directly accomplished by them, were certainly 
largely influenced by them.”—Indianapolis, Indiana, News. 


TRESS COMMENTS. 


85 


The Prohibitionists, unlike many ‘‘third party” men, are not 
trying to break into any other part^', or win any other political 
advantage. They sacrifice whatever political infiuencc they might 
otherwise wield for the sake of consistency in the advocacy of 
prinefple. Devotion of that kind is worthy of respect.—New York 
World (Dem). 

So far as we know. Commander Ballington Booth, of the 
Salvation Army in America, has never before declared publicly his 
adhesion and that of the members of the Salvation Army to the 
Prohibition pal*t^^ But he did so last Thursday evening, in a 
speech before a large audience in Prohibition Park, with an 
emphasis that delighted his hearers.—New York Voice. 

One of the developments of this campaign which is going to 
startle everybody will be the number of saloon-keepers who arc 
now talking and will be found working and voting for Republican 
candidates and high license. Ask the owner of a first-class saloon 
in this city if he favors high license, and he will give you good 
business reasons wh 3 ^ he should do so.—New York Tribune. 

It is a very significant fact, however, that these lies have 
emanated outside of California, and the further away the lie is 
given currenc}", the more heinous become the charges, whilst the 
papers of all political faiths on this coast, where the General is 
known and loved, all unite in praise of his consistent, sterling 
qualities, as a candidate and a citizen.—California Prohibitionist. 

The nomination of Dr. J. B. Cranfill, of Waco, on the Prohibi¬ 
tion ticket for Vice-President, is a compliment to Waco and to 
Texas, and is appreciated b}^ everybody without regard to political 
affiliation. Dr. Cranfill is an able man and whether he succeeds in 
‘‘pulverizing the rum power” or not, he will give it some of the 
hardest blows it ever had. ’Rah for Cranfill!—Dallas, Texas, News 
( Dem). 

The Prohibition party has in its ranks some of the most earnest 
and intelligent men in the country; it is doing a most valuable 
educational work; in spite of its mistakes it has shown its abilit\^ 
to command votes; in some States it holds the balance of power, 
and it has converted many thousands of men in the older parties to 
the acceptance of its fundamental principle of prohibition.— 
Watchman, Boston. 

They will poll a larger vote than their party has ever cast 
before. They represent a principle in which a large portion of the 
people of Iowa firmly believe, and if they were successful in the 


8G 


PRESS COMMENTS. 


nation it would be a great deal easier for Iowa to keep its eolors 
flying on the same line. Nothing would help the eause in Iowa 
more than a large vote for Bidwell and Cranfill in the eountry at 
large.—Des Moines News (Ind). 

The Prohibition Convention at Cincinnati last week was signifi¬ 
cant by reason of the light it threw upon the growth of public sen¬ 
timent on other issues than that of temperance. Altogther the 
convention gave evidence that it regarded the temperance question 
merely as the first of labor questions. This is certainly the spirit of 
the old abolitionists who were on the side of the disinherited all 
along the line.—New York Christian Union. 

The corrupt and imbecile platform-makers and bosses of the 
Republican Party will lose half a million votes by their cowardice 
on the public school question. There is no doubt but that this 
number of good and honest men who have always been in the 
Republican ranks will desert the party and go over to the Prohibi¬ 
tionists, simply because these latter are true to American principles. 
—The American Citizen, Boston, Massachusetts. 

It was claimed by many good temperance Republicans four years 
ago, that the Republican party was in favor of the overthrow of 
the saloon power, and in proof of it pointed to the resolution oi 
cordial sympathy with all wise and well directed efforts for temper¬ 
ance and morality. In three years of Republican cordial sympathy’' 
rule the number of saloons has increased from 171,369 to 240,797. 
Is there any hope in continuing such a policy ?—Northwestern Mail. 

The Prohibitionists are numerous enough to be taken into 
serious account in any political calculations. They believe they are 
right and have the courage to stand by their principles, and that is 
certainly commendable. That they commenced small is no fault, 
for other and more successful parties have had equally small begin¬ 
nings. Their growth has been by no means as rapid as they ex¬ 
pected, but though disappointed they are not disheartened.—New 
York Sun (Dem). 

There is one plank in the Prohibition platform to which all 
patriotic Americans ought enthusiastically subscribe, and that is 
the one which takes an unequivocal stand “for the American public 
school” and against “any appropriation of public mone 3 '' for sec- 
‘ tarian schools,” and declares that “only by united support of such 
common schools, taught in the English language, can we hope to 
become and remain a homogeneous and harmonious people.”—Co¬ 
lumbus Dispatch (Ind). 


PRESS COMMENTS. 


87 


A Colorado paper that seldom permits itself to be hampered by 
facts states that General Bidwell, the Prohibition candidate for 
President, keeps in stock rare old wines from his own vineyard. In 
tlie interest of truth, which, though mighty, occasionally needs aid, 
the attention of the paper in question is called to the circumstance, 
heretofore related, that the Bidwell vines have been torn up by the 
roots because their product could be turned into a beverage.—San 
Francisco Examiner (Dem). 

Since its formation the traffic has been very commonly by the 
acts of the legislatures of nearly all the States materially restricted 
and regulated, and it is due to the Prohibition party to say that 
the fear of its growing influence acting upon the regular parties 
was the cause of the passage of high license laws by several States. 
It can scarcely be questioned that the passage of the admirable 
high license law of Pennsylvania was secured not directl}^ by the 
Prohibitionists, who opposed it, but indirectly by them.—Philadel¬ 
phia Ledger (Rep). 

A million votes for Bidwell will not make him President, but it 
will be fair notice that the manufacture of intoxicating liquors is 
not a safe business to invest money in, and the capitalist will be 
quick to see the danger, and get his money out if he can. No 
shrew business man will want to put his money into a distillery in 
the face of a million Prohibition votes. Thus Prohibition, with a 
party behind it, will begin to prohibit even before it elects an officer. 
Don’t you want to be one of the million to serve notice on the 
pauper factories?—California Voice (Pro). 

The Prohibition ticket nominated at Cincinnati the other jday 
will not get as far along as the White House and the chair of the 
Senate, but has a place of its own in current politieal history all 
the same. Not only are both candidates from the sunset side of the 
Mississippi, but the ticket crosses the old sectional line in a way to 
fill politicians of the Harrison Force Bill school with disgust. Gen¬ 
eral John Bidwell of California for President and J. B. Cranfill of 
Texas are a little too dry to catch the floating vote, but as typify¬ 
ing the passing of the Civil war era in our politics they make an 
exceedingly interesting combination.—St. Louis Republic (Dem). 

General Bidwell and his friends are fortified in their purposes by 
the reflection that no great reform was ever accomplished until 
after a pioneer party of extremists had perished in trying to pro¬ 
mote it. They are resolved to adhere to their flag until the rest oi 
the country is educated up to their standard. No good man will 


88 


PRESS COMMENTS. 


den}’^ them the right of emulating the early martyrs. Their aspira¬ 
tion is noble. And though it may pass into the long list of utopian 
projects which were designed to benefit mankind but failed through 
the obduracy of a stiff-necked generation, the brave men who bore 
the banner of a hopeless cause will always be objects of respect and 
admiration.—San Francisco Examiner (Dem). 

The editor of The New Era happens to know both the nominees. 
* * * From all their ranks the Prohibitionists could not possibh^ 
have selected better men. Able, respected, practical and earnest, 
their nomination will do more to bring up the partj’’ in the respect 
of the nation than anything it has done for years. Such men belie 
the reputation that the party has heretofore borne as a set of hair¬ 
brained, unpractical enthusiavSts or dissativsfied “sore-heads” from 
other parties. The editor of The New’ Era thinks that the Prohibi¬ 
tion Party is an unpractical and an unnecessary organization, but 
he is glad to have an opportunity to pay this tribute to two 
worthy men.—The New Era, Greensburg, Indiana. 

Just what will be the outcome of the drunkenness investigation 
in the House of Representatives we do not know, but if the com¬ 
mittee does not report and the house does not pass a resolution 
utterly abolivshing the bar in the Capitol, both will be utterly amiss 
in plain duty. It may be that out and out drunkenness on the floor 
of the House is the exception rather than the rule, but that there 
are social drinking customs which unfit members for duty no one 
who knows anything about it for a moment doubts. Drunken 
legislators and tippling statesmen are a disgrace to the nation, and 
if they will get drunk, and if they will tipple, let the nation wash 
its hands of it by abolishing the Capitol saloon, for it deserves no 
other name.—Boston Traveller. 

It is commonly conceded that the Prohibitionists are the most 
zealous people in politics. Year after year the\’ ralh% as fresh and 
determined as ever, and hammer awa}’’ at the “ rum power.” Ever\’ 
four years they meet in national convention, put a presidential 
ticket in the field, and wage an earnest cam])aign over all the 
country. The enthusiastic leaders are without hope of reward, and 
no member of the party has an office of an 3 " consequence in sight, 
or at least within reach. All Prohibition workers realize the hope¬ 
lessness of the cause which they are engaged in promoting, so far 
as possession of the offices is concerned. Thej^ get credit from the 
public for devotion to principle. Undoubtedly they strive to secure 
what is regarded as an essential reform.—Cincinnati Times-Star 
(Rep). 


PRESS COMMENTS, 


89 


What concerns us now is this: What will be the probable 
Prohibition vote at the next Presidential eleetion ? It is elaimed 
that its vote will be again about doubled, and there are signs whieh 
indieate that this may be true. The disposition of many voters 
toward the party during the last four years has ehanged. Now, 
whenever dissatisfaction exists among the rank and file of the old 
political parties, a largely increased Prohibition vote is east. The 
Prohibition Party advaneed a great deal when it gained the respeet 
and beeame the second choice of so many thinking eitizens. Whilst 
we do not believe in a National Prohibition Party, and are opposed 
to sueh a movement, outside of State lines, yet we are eompelled to 
coneede the great possibilities in favor of the new movement.— 
Record of the Times, Tarry town. 

Of all the parties the Prohibition party is the only one that has 
risen to the demands of the day, and by its candidate and platform 
made itself worthy of confidence. Taking advanced, yet none too 
radical grounds on the financial and transportation question it also 
stands fairh^ and squarely on the prohibition of the liquor traffic, 
an evil beside whieh the monopolies, trusts and the like dwindle 
into insignificance. These latter evils thrive by and through the 
purehasable saloon vote, and only by the overthro w of this great 
evil ean other evils be reached. The voters may not now see it; 
may not indeed see it in this campaign, but the time is hastening 
when they will realize that is a fruitless task to remedy effects and 
still leave the great eause unimpaired and unscotched. The eontest 
against monopoly cannot succeed until the great tool of monopoly— 
the legalized liquor traffic—is prohibited and suppresvsed.—Elkhorn, 
Ind., Blade. « ' 

The Nominating Convention of the Prohibition Party assembled 
last week in Cincinnati and put in nomination for President of the 
United States, General John Bid well, of California, and for Viee- 
President, J. B. Cranfill. General Bidwell is a man of wealth, of 
much ability, and a giant in physical stature. . . . Dispatches 

say that one of the nominating speeehes declared he would stand 
eighteen inches higher than Grover Cleveland. The adoption of the 
platform caused eonsiderable debate, during which there were 
various interesting and some dramatic scenes. The platform 
expresses opinions upon many subjects, but a resolution, which was 
first defeated, was afterward passed making Prohibition a test of 
partv fealtv. Whatever excitement attended the convention, we 
have not seen the charge that many or any of the delegates were 
intoxicated by anything they drank, or that on aecount of its 


>90 


. PRESS COMMENTS. 


meeting new mammoth bars had to be erected, or that trains and 
express wagons were overloaded with spirituous and malt liquors. 
—New York Christian Advocate, July 7. 

The ownership of such a magnificent estate has expOvSed General 
Bidwell to criticism as a “land monopolist.’’ But it is only justice 
to him to say that of late years he has subdivided a portion of the 
ranch adjoining the town, and has placed the subdivisions on the 
market at moderate prices. The General is a thorough farmer, and 
it is his boast that he produces everything on his ranch that is 
usually found on his dinner table, with the exception of salt and 
pepper. He has hundreds of acres in orchard, a flour mill and a 
cannery. Many years ago he had a vineyard of wine grapes, but 
becoming a convert to the doctrine of total abstinence he caused 
the vines to be destroyed. The act was characteristic of the old 
gentleman’s conscientiousness, which is above suspicion. His word 
is regarded as absolutely trustworthy, and he is beyond question 
sincere and earnest. The Prohibitionists could find no more credi¬ 
table eandidate.—Los Angeles Express ( Rep). 

The convention held in Cincinnati has done much to renew eon- 
fidence in the wisdom, integrity and political intelligence of the 
party. One could not but be impressed, on looking over the con¬ 
vention, with the presence of large numbers of men of responsi¬ 
bility and importance in their own communities who were there 
without any chance to distinguish themselves, for they are not 
speakers; without any thoughts of oflice, for it is not yet near 
enough to the party to be a strong magnet; without any desire for 
a high old time, for the hotel barkeepers were the lonesomest men 
in Cincinnati that week. There were farmers and mechanics there 
wlio had come over 2000 miles at a personal expense of over $100, 
without the expectation of being able to say a word on the floor of 
the convention, or to secure a single emolument in the way of office. 
The truth is that if one looks now-a-days to find the real repre¬ 
sentatives of the people, those who are the home-builders and com- 
munit^MDuildcrs of America, those who represent the real heart and 
conscience and thought of the millions who are not “in politics’’ in 
the professional sense of the phrase, he will not find them in the 
old-party conventions, but in the Prohibition party’s convention, 
drawn there by a great moral issue. This is not an idle boast; it is 
the simple truth.—New York Voice (Pro). 

It is fashionable to sneer at the Prohibitionists, and to write 
them down as a set of cranks and fanatics. But the man who 
carefully reads the proceedings of the Cincinnati Convention and 


PRESS COMMENTS. 


91 


reflects upon what was done there, will not feel like sneering. The 
convention, as well as its platform and candidates is deserving of 
respect at every point. For the first time in the history of the Pro¬ 
hibition party there has been a comprehensive recognition of the 
great questions at stake in our national politics. Prohibition of 
the liquor traffic is still the chief issue, but there are bcvsides clean- 
cut declarations on the tariff, the currency, the restriction of trusts, 
government control of natural monopolies, on immigration, and 
similar subjects. There is an air of statesmanship in the platform, 
which, if we mistake not, will challenge the attention of voters. 
The Prohibition party must now be aecredited with something 
besides honest intentions and courage of conviction. It has taken 
on political method and the views of statesmen. It has made a 
bold and united appeal to the voters of the nation upon questions 
of vital interest. There may be a difference of opinion as to the 
governmental policy suggested by the Prohibition party, but there 
can be none as to its breadth of view, to its succinct statements, 
and to its catalogue of popular moral, political and financial prin¬ 
ciples. The candidates named by the convention are men of char¬ 
acter and reputation. They have been consistent advocates of 
prohibition doctrines, and they are worthy representatives of a 
political organization which is neither without prestige nor power. 
In past national elections the Prohibitionists have cut but a sorry 
figure, and yet for twenty 3 ^ears the party has been before the 
nation, growing slowly but surely all the time. Who knows but 
that in the political disaffection which agitates the ranks of the 
older organizations, the Prohibition part\^ has now a chance little 
dreamed of? At all events, the party which has issued a platform 
and named candidates at Cincinnati will bear watching in the cam¬ 
paign about to begin.—Baltimore Herald (Ind). 



